[1][4][5][6][2][7] Lan is not generally thought to be based on a historical person,[8] but is traditionally said to have been born sometime during the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 CE),[1][9] and lived as a homeless street entertainer, who wandered all over China, singing philosophical songs.

[12] According to the Hsiu hsiang Pa Hsien tung yu chi, epithets of Lan Caihe include "the Red-footed Great Genius," Ch’ih-chiao Ta-hsien incarnate.

Sometimes Lan Caihe's personal name is said to have been Yang Su[1] (not to be confused with a famous general with that name who died in 606 CE).

Different writers and artists portray this immortal as an intersex person,[1] a man,[2][9][7] a woman,[1][2][7][14] a man who looks like a woman,[14] a person who does not fit into contemporary male or female gender roles,[1][2] or someone who appears as—or dresses as—different genders at different times.

[4] The Kai yü ts'ung k'ao holds the view that Lan was male, and having him dress as a woman in contemporary plays was a "highly ridiculous" error.

[10] Legends describe Lan as failing to visibly age over the decades, even before attaining immortality.

[1] This immortal's musical instruments appear in depictions in art and have an important role in stories about Lan Caihe.

[8][3] Lan's basket contains plants and medicinal herbs associated with longevity, including: the magic fungus (lingzhi mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum), which resists decay, and in Traditional Chinese medicine is used to prolong life;[10][22] sprigs of bamboo[10] and pine,[10] which as evergreen plants, symbolize longevity;[22] flowering and leafless plum, because they show vitality in blooming in early spring from seemingly lifeless branches;[10] chrysanthemums;[10] and heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) with red berries.

As a motif, Lan's basket is popular in decorations for the Chinese New Year, and represents riches and abundance[23][24] Lan's flower basket, along with the emblems of the rest of the Eight Immortals, appear in such places as on a Qing dynasty 19th century imperial dragon robe.

[5][3][15] This long blue gown is called lan shan (襕衫), which is traditional attire for men since the Tang dynasty.

In Lan's case, the one bare foot may represent freeing the soul, as well as disregard for convention.

[10] Having a shoe on only one foot could also have a purpose in the genre of music Lan performed, "stomping songs,"[13] which are described further below.

The ragged clothing and one bare foot, carrying castanets and a string of cash, are Lan's appearance as described in the Huan Chu version of the Liexian Zhuan.

[10] Scholars believe that only three members of the Eight Immortals are based on real people who historically existed: Lü Dongbin, Zhongli Quan, and Zhang Guolao.

[8] Scholars generally don't believe that Lan Caihe is based on an actual historical person.

However, one view is that this immortal may have been based on an actor whose stage name was Lan Caihe, and otherwise went by Xu Jian, during the Five Dynasties period (907–960 CE).

"[19] Another of Lan's songs also described physical aging and the brevity of mortal life, as follows: Ye men of the world!

The ancients have passed away like running water, never to return; While the men of to-day are pressing on in ever increasing multitude.

The genre first appeared in the Tang dynasty, and the form practiced by Lan first appeared in the Northern Sung: performed alone, singing and dancing at the same time, using certain types of tunes and patterns, while stomping the foot on the beat of the music, accompanied with a clapper.

Sometimes Lan strung the money on a cord[1] (Chinese coins having a hole in the middle for stringing), letting it drag on the ground while walking along,[6][10] or waving it to the time of their song.

[6][10] Lan was not concerned about losing money,[6] letting coins scatter from the cord, leaving it bare.

[10] While living as a homeless mortal, Lan wore clothing that was generally inappropriate for the weather, without being harmed by it.

[1][6][10][15] In the winter, Lan slept naked on the snow, so that their hot breath rose like a cloud of steam.

[1][6][15] The latter resembles paradoxical undressing, a symptom of hypothermia (being exposed to too cold of weather), in which people feel strangely as if they are too hot, and take off all their clothes, when really they are in danger of freezing to death.

[35] This part of the story may also represent Lan's mastery over the body, similar to feats performed by other Taoist immortals.

(This is the origin of the proverb "The Eight Immortals cross the sea, each reveals its divine powers" (八仙過海，各顯神通; bā xiān guò hǎi, gè xiǎn shén tōng).

[17] In one scene in "The Legend of the Shipwrecked Servant," the Eight Immortals walked on water to visit a god who lived across the sea.

[40][41] According to the Shih wu yüan hui, quoted in the 19th century compilation Chi shuo ch'üan chén, the Eight Immortals represent dualities of characteristics: old and young, male and female, rich and poor, honored and humble, warriors and scholars, noble and disabled.

[15] In one sad passage, Yuan compares himself unfavorably with two cultural figures: I tremble at the appearance of white hairs even more than P'an Yo; People laugh at my blue gown-- like that of Ts'ai-ho.

Yuan also wrote this poem on a painting of Lan Caihe, in the Chinese tradition of adding calligraphy to illuminate other artists' illustrations: Long castanets and loud songs are no sure sign of madness.