Jade: Jade was considered more valuable than gold in Chinese culture. It was
believed to come directly from the gods and confere luck, good fortune, and even
immortality.
Cinnabar: A red powder that can be found in magical caves, also known as mercury.
Immortal Peaches: These heavenly fruits were thought to impart immortality and
genie-hood upon those who consumed them.
Dragons, Unicorns, Turtles, and Phoenix: These four animals were often considred
guardians of the cardinal points and were often mythicized to a severe degree.
They were considered the four lords of the animals and all animals would have to
report to one of them. Dragons, Unicorns, and Phoenix were considered to be
auspicious omens when they appeared. The turtle, which could be seen more often, was
often considered a key ingredient in immortality drugs because of their supposed long life
spans.
The Four Dragon Gods of the Oceans: They were four dragon gods who ruled the oceans and
controlled rain. They were good friends with Monkey King.
Auspicious Luminosity: This can actually be translated to clouds, but auspicious
luminosity gets across the idea that these were special clouds. These, as well as
cranes, phoenix, or dragons were often the chosen form of transportation for immortals.
The three disciples can all "mount the clouds" i.e. ride upon their
auspicious luminosities. |