Description
Large Chinese Eight Immortals Chess Set.
Offered here is an exquisite example of the Chinese Eight Immortals Chess Set. The set contains 32 natural and stained chess pieces. The King stands an impressive 6″ tall. This is masterfully hand carved set of chess pieces, finely detailed with unique expressions on each piece. The pawns, representing the eight Immortals, are the same on both sides, but each pawn is different. The chess pieces are housed a fitted combination storage box which opens to form a chess board. The set is complete and in excellent condition. The chessmen date to late 19th or early 20th Century. This ivory Chess Set is pre-ban, legally owned, and can be Sold only -Within- the U.S.A.
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 Philopsher Han Ziang); Zhang Guo Lao (The Elder Zhang Guo) & Zhongli Quan.
