Which of the Eight Immortals is depicted holding castanets?

Cao Guojiu is the Eight Immortal depicted holding castanets. In Chinese religious art, his paired clappers are often called castanets, wooden tablets, or court clappers, linking him to music and his aristocratic background.

Cao Guojiu is traditionally identified with Cao Yi, a relative of a Song dynasty imperial family. Legends say he was ashamed of his brother’s corruption and withdrew from courtly privilege, eventually pursuing the Dao and becoming an immortal.

The castanets also carry symbolic meaning. They resemble the tablets or emblems associated with court officials, recalling Cao’s noble status while showing that he renounced worldly power. This attribute distinguishes him from the other immortals: Han Xiangzi carries a flute, Lan Caihe carries a flower basket, and Zhongli Quan carries a magical fan.

Some images show flat clappers rather than modern finger castanets, so the object can look different across periods and regions. The identity remains the same: Cao Guojiu, the “Imperial Uncle Cao.”