Following on the popular “Eight Immortals Cross the Sea (I),” which was released on June 12, 2003, Chunghwa Post is issuing a second set of postage stamps on this topic. The second set of four stamps features Han Siang-zih, He Sian-gu, Cao Guo-jiou and Lan Cai-he.   There are many deities and demigods in Chinese folk religion, and the Eight Immortals have always been the most favored and famous group. Taken from various legends of them in Chinese folklore, vivid images of them helping the poor and the weak as well as punishing wickedness and encouraging virtue are ubiquitous in Chinese societies. Their unique ability of making people feel close to them is closely connected to the variety of their backgrounds. Whether they were intellectuals (Lyu Dong-bin and Han Siang-zih), a general (Han Jhong-li), royalty (Cao Guo-jiou), a hermit (Jhang Guo-lao), a beggar (Li Tie-guai), a folk performer (Lan Cai-he) or a woman (He Sian-gu), they all became immortals through self-cultivation and good deeds. For the believers—whether man or woman, old or young, all can find someone among them to identify with.