Other religions regard ancient ideas of immortality as myths, but the Chinese hoped for "the best of both worlds" --as well as wanting eternal life for the soul, they also sought elixirs of physical immortality which would let them transcend birth, aging, sickness and death and no longer be hostages to time. Immortality became a basic theme of our native Daoist religion.
當其他宗教將上古不死思想視為神話；中國人卻期望精神與肉體得兼，除了靈魂永垂不朽，更努力追尋不死藥方，好讓肉體能超越生老病死、不受時空控制，長生不老也成為本土道教的主題。