Da Jia Xue Dao Hao,

Dewa Cao Kuok Ciu (Co Kok Kiu)

Nama aslinya Cao Yon, sedangkan sebutan Kuok Ciu adalah panggilan untuk saudara laki laki istri kaisar. Cao Kuok Ciu adalah adik dari permaisuri Kaisar Ren Cong dari Dinasty Song.

Karena seorang saudaranya yang juga seorang pejabat tinggi dan karena merasa mempunyai hubungan keluarga kaisar, maka seringkali bertindak sewenang wenang terhadap rakyat kecil, maka melihat hal ini hati Cao Kuok Ciu menjadi hampa bercampur malu yang tak terhingga. Hal inilah yang membuat beliau pergi kepuncak gunung untuk bertapa dan menjalani ilmu Tao. Atas bantuan dari Dewa Han Chong Li dan Dewa Li Thong Pin beliau memperoleh Jalan Mencapai Kedewaan.

Cao Kuok Ciu dilukiskan sebagai seorang pejabat tinggi Dinasty Song lengkap dengan topi yang bertelinga panjang dan membawa sebuah alat pengiring musik semacam castanet. Itulah sebabnya beliau dipuja sebagai Dewa Pelindung Pemusik

Kisah tentang Delapan Dewa ini mulai dikenal sejak jaman Dinasty Tang yang diceritakan secara tutur tinular dari mulut kemulut secara lisan dikalangan rakyat dan kemudian dicatat oleh para penulis. Baru pada Dinasty Ming kisah Pak Sien (Delapan Dewa) buat ciptaan Wu Yuan Tai yang merangkai kisah “Delapan Dewa Menyeberangai Lautan Timur”.

Dalam kisah ini diceritakan bahwa Pak Sien dalam perjalanan pulang dari pesta yang diselenggarakan Dewi Si Hwang Mu. Ketika menyeberangi lautan timur dihadang oleh Raja Naga Laut Timur yang ingin merampas pusaka pusaka Dewa Dewi tersebut. Maka Raja Naga mengerakkan pasukan Laut, dan terjadilah pertempuran dahsyat yang akhirnya dimenangkan oleh Pak Sien (Delapan Dewa)

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Cao Guojiu, literally Imperial Brother-in-law Cao, is a Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. His real name was Cao Yi while his courtesy name was Jingxiu, and he was better known to his contemporaries as Cao Jingxiu.

Cao Guojiu is believed to be a descendant of Cao Bin, a general of the early Song dynasty, and a younger brother of Empress Cao, the wife of Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty. As none of Emperor Renzong’s sons survived their father, the emperor designated a younger male relative, who later became Emperor Yingzong, as his successor. As such, Cao could not have been a maternal uncle of Emperor Yingzong, so his “Imperial Uncle” status seemed ambiguous. However, as the Chinese character jiu (舅), which means “maternal uncle”, can also mean “wife’s brother”, it is believed that the latter meaning should apply to Cao. In other words, Cao was the “Imperial Brother-in-Law” of Emperor Renzong rather than an “Imperial (Maternal) Uncle” of any Song dynasty emperor.

Cao’s younger brother, Cao Jingzhi (曹景植), abused his relationship with the imperial family by bullying others and engaging in corrupt practices. Cao tried to persuade his brother to change his ways but he did not listen. In the meantime, he also used his family fortune to help the poor and tried to make up for his brother’s misdeeds. One day, Cao Jingzhi was accused by other officials in the imperial court of corruption and abuse of power. Cao Guojiu felt so ashamed and disappointed by his brother’s misconduct that he gave up his official career and went to the countryside to lead a reclusive life.301  During this time, he met the immortals Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin, who taught him Taoist magical arts. After many years of practice and cultivation, Cao himself also became an immortal.

Cao is often depicted dressed in official robes and holding a jade tablet or paiban (clapper). He is also regarded as the patron deity of acting and theatre.t.

Xie Shen En

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