---
title: Li T'ieh-kuai
description: mythology - Buddhism - Confucius - Li T'ieh-kuai
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://mitologiachina.idoneos.com/en/304624/
source: en/304624/index.md
---

<h2 id="li-teih-kuai">Li T'ieh-kuai</h2>

Li T'ieh-kuai means "Li with the iron crutch" and is the protector of the sick. He is depicted as an old, lame beggar. His soul was called to the heavens to receive the teachings of the spirit of Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism. Li then told one of his disciples to burn his body if he had not returned within seven days. However, the disciple, summoned to the deathbed of his mother, burned it on the sixth day. When Li returned, he had to enter the body of a beggar who had just died of hunger.

The soul of Li T'ieh-kuai is represented in the form of vapour rising from the head, bearing the medicine of life, above the beggar's body in which it dwells.