Description
Chinese Eight Immortals Chess Set.
Offered here is a marvelous example of the Chinese Eight Immortals Chess Set. The chess set contains 32 natural and faux ivory chess pieces. The King stands an impressive 5-0″ tall with a 2-0″ ornately carved rectangular base. This set of chess pieces is finely detailed with unique expressions on each piece. The pawns, representing the eight Immortals, are the same on both sides, but each pawn carving is different. The chess pieces are housed in their original silk-lined and fitted storage box which opens to form a chess board. The interior of the storage case contains pads which secure the chessmen when opening the box. The chess pieces are complete and in as new. The chess board ahs a chip in once corner which is shown in the gallery. The Chinese Eight Immortals Chess Set was made in Tiawn in the mid-20th Century.
Background.
In Chinese mythology, the Eight Immortals were a group of legendary “xian” (super-human, celestial beings). They include: – He Xian gu (The Immortal Woman); Cao Gou Jiu (The Royal Uncle Cao); Li Tie guai (The Iron-Crutch Li); Lan Cai (The Immortal Hermaphrodite); Lu Dongbin (The Chief Leader); Han Xiang Zi (The Philosopher Han Ziang); Zhang Guo Lao (The Elder Zhang Guo) & Zhongli Quan.
