Cao Guojiu (left) and Lan Caihe (right) [left of the set Daoist Immortals] 1646

Kano Sansetsu painted this image of Cao Guojiu and Lan Caihe, two of the Eight Daoist Immortals, during the Edo period in Japan. These figures come to us from Chinese folklore and were often depicted in Japanese art, reflecting the close cultural exchange between the two countries. Sansetsu’s painting offers a glimpse into the fluidity of identity, both personal and cultural. Look at Lan Caihe on the right; tradition often depicts them as gender-ambiguous or androgynous. In art, Lan Caihe is sometimes shown as male and sometimes female, challenging rigid gender norms. Cao Guojiu, on the left, with his lotus-like staff, was an imperial relative who abandoned court life. His presence speaks to themes of renunciation and the search for spiritual enlightenment. What does it mean to seek immortality, to transcend the limitations of earthly existence? Perhaps it's about embracing complexity, questioning norms, and finding beauty in the unconventional.