Zhang Guolao

ZHANG GUOLAO was a Taoist fangshi who lived as a hermit on Zhongtiao Mountain in Hengzhou during the Tang dynasty. By the time Wu Zetian came to power, he claimed to be several hundred years old. A strong believer in the magic of necromancy, he declared that he was a Grand Minister to the mythical Emperor Yao in his previous life. Zhang had a love for wine and winemaking. Other members of the Eight Immortals drank his wine, which they believed to have healing or medicinal properties. He usually be depicted standing or seated, but is typically shown riding his white mule, usually seated facing backwards. His emblem is a fish drum, which is a tube-shaped bamboo drum with two iron rods or mallets that he carries with him, or carrying a phoenix feather or a peach, representing immortality. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who had done before him the signs by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were slain with the sword that proceeded out of the mouth of him that sat on the horse, and all the birds were satisfied with their flesh. And on his vesture and on his thigh he has this name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The reverse depicts Zhang Guolao riding his white mule looking backwards, which is how he is usually depicted, riding along the mountain roads, visiting villages. With his right hand he ties up his long beard and with his right hand he his left arm he holds his emblem, a bamboo drum in the shape of a tube with two iron rods or mallets representing immortality. In the sky three herons can be seen at different distances and in the background part of the residence of the gods.

The obverse depicts another part of the residence of the gods and several herons, from the farthest to the nearest, which always accompany the eight immortals, and the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.