---
title: Li Hai and the Toad
description: mythology - buddhism - confucius - Li Hai and the Toad
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://mitologiachina.idoneos.com/en/304610/
source: en/304610/index.md
---

<h2 id="li-hai-y-el-sapo">Li Hai and the Toad</h2>

Li Hai was a minister of state who one day received a visit from the immortal Chung Li Ch'uan. The immortal performed a trick, balancing ten eggs stacked one on top of another with a gold coin placed between all of them.

-   "Is that not a little unstable?" asked Li Hai.
    
-   "Not as unstable as your position," replied the immortal.
    

Li Hai took the hint and resigned from his post, setting out in search of perfection. On his journey he encountered the immortal Lu Tung-pin, who taught him how to transform gold into pills of immortality; in this way Li Hai too became immortal. He travelled throughout the world accompanied by a three-legged toad. The toad would often escape and leap into a nearby well, so Li Hai had to lure it out by using a string of gold coins as bait.

Li Hai is venerated as the god of prosperity and is also the patron of needle-makers.