The gourd is said to embody heaven and earth, and to contain spiritual energy that wards off evil spirits. It is often hung for protection above a door or window, at the head of a bed, or in a vehicle. One of the Taoist treasures, the gourd, is also a vessel for magic elixirs. Li Tie Guai (李鐵拐), one of the Eight Immortals (八仙) and a master magician, carries the gourd as his treasure.
