Ma Gu Offers Longevity

The most famous of all the stories that feature Ma Gu has to be Ma Gu Xian Shou.

Ma Gu Xian Shou in stylised script

In the classic novel “Journey to the West” Xi You Ji, Ma Gu attended the peach banquet held by the Queen Mother of the West, for which she brewed a special wine made of cannabis. She gave this to the Queen Mother, and the image of this scene has become renowned as “Ma Gu Offers Longevity”, Ma Gu Xian Shou.

During the Qing Dynasty a play was created depicting Ma Gu’s story, Ma Gu Xian Shou, and it became one of the plays performed at a high official’s birthday. This is where the common misconception that Ma Gu offers birthday celebrations, rather than longevity, arose from.

Followers of the Way of Infinite Harmony view this story of Ma Gu with the upmost reverance, and view any depiction of this scene as sacred and holy. This scene is the verification by the deities that the Path of Ma Gu (Way of Infinite Harmony) is indeed the path to the Tao.

Followers therefore use the words “Ma Gu Xian Shou” as a statement of faith, and believe hearing these words gets one closer to knowing the Self / attaining the Tao. It is also therefore often said as a mantra by devotees.
Ma Gu Xian Shou