曹國舅
Cao Guo Jiu

曹國舅是八仙中出現最晚的一人，資料也較少，頗有湊數之嫌。曹國舅的身世主要有三種說法。一說其是宋仁宗曹皇后的長弟，名景休，但歷史上並無曹景休其人。一說曹國舅是宋仁宗朝之大國舅，名諱不詳。

還有一種說法，曹國舅即宋朝的曹佾。歷史上確有其人，為宋初名將、魯國公曹彬之孫，其姐即宋仁宗趙禎的皇后。曹皇后是歷史上能幹的皇后之一，其弟國舅曹佾，字公伯。性情和易，通音律，善於奕射，喜作詩，多才多藝。靠着曹后的權勢，做了同中書門下平章事的高官，後封濟陽郡王。

曹佾是個很會明哲保身的人物，在當時政治動盪的時代，他卻安然無恙，一帆風順。他的訣竅是一出朝門，從來不談國事。神宗曾對大臣們說：「曹王雖用近親貴，而端拱寡過，真純臣也！」這位「純臣」靠着自己的一套處世哲學，優哉悠哉地活了72歲，這在當時是個了不起的歲數，他可謂福、祿、壽三全了。但其並無任何成仙事迹。

 據元代《純陽帝君神仙妙通紀》記載，曹國舅人長得漂亮精神，很有風度，但他「天資純善，不喜富貴，酷慕清虛，一心修道」，這對身為皇親國戚的曹國舅來說，極不尋常。曹國舅有着做神仙的根基，最終被漢鍾離、呂洞賓引入仙班。這是他能夠進入八仙之列的重要原因之一。

在後來的八仙形象中，曹國舅不是葛巾野服，一身隱士打扮，而是身穿紅官袍，頭戴紗帽，在有些戲劇中，臉上還塗着豆腐塊，一副小丑縣官模樣。八仙故事普及以後，民間的廟會扮了他們來娛神，貴人們的筵宴上扮了他們來祝壽，八仙的形象服飾也就與戲劇上掛了鈎，戲曲中生旦淨末丑的行當也挪到了八仙身上。

The Royal Uncle Cao
Cao Gou Jiu is reputed to have been the brother of a 10th century Song Empress, the uncle to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty and the son of a military commander. His attribute, the castanets, are thought to be derived from the pass that gave him free access to the palace, a benefit of his rank.
He is also attributed with a jade tablet, which can purify the air.
According to another version, Cao Guo Jiu's younger brother Cao Jingzhi was a bully, but no one dared to prosecute him because of his powerful connections, not even after he killed a person. Royal Uncle Cao was so overwhelmed by sadness and shame on his brother that he resigned his office and left home.
He is represented by wearing formal court dress, always the finest dress among all Eight Immortals, and carrying castanets.
Cao Gou Jiu is the patron deity of actors.