PENG-ZI

[Chinese] A figure in Chinese mythology that represents longevity. Legend states that he was born during the Han Dynasty and by the end of the Yin Dynasty had reached the age of 777 years (although other sources say well over 800 years) and still had the outer appearance of a youth. To keep himself young he swallowed mica dust and the ground antlers of a species of elk. In religious Taoism it is believed that Peng-zi introduced the Taoist sexual practices for prolonging life.