Lan Caihe

The source begins by acknowledging that the figure's life is unclear. Its descriptions emphasize mismatched footwear, unusual clothing and singing in public. These features form a recognizable character rather than a dependable chronology of birth, residence and occupation.

Stories of giving away money or letting it fall without concern make detachment from ordinary gain a central theme. The songs reflect on passing time and immortal life. Their meaning can be explained without translating the ancient verses or treating every reported performance as documentary evidence.

A separate theatrical account turns Lan Caihe into a performer called Xu Jian and involves Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin in the passage toward immortal life. That dramatic identity belongs to a particular retelling and should not replace all other accounts. The differences show how a shared immortal figure could be reshaped for performance.