Eight figures taken from Daoist mythology are shown wearing Chinese costumes with leafy collars or belts, and, in one case, a fur cape. These strange characters are the Daoist equivalents of Buddhist arhats (rakan) or sages. They are styled Immortals because they temporarily escaped the circle of transmigration. Often called sennin (mountain people), the Immortals were introduced to Japan from China in the 15th century, and were accepted into Zen iconography as part of the synthesis of Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian ideology. The theme was popular among Momoyama-period painters such as Kaiho Yusho and Unkoku Togan in the late 16th and early 17th century. Stylistically the present screen, which is highly entertaining and original, is most closely related to the style of Unkoku Togan (1547-1618), or one of his immediate followers such as Toeki. Togan favored Chinese themes with large-scale figures framed in a cursory landscape. The facial types seen here and also the large straw hat with round dome and white cloth fringe find their counterparts in a pair of screens in a Japanese collection (see Takeda Tsuneo, Tohaku/Yusho, Suiboku bijutsu taikei, vol. 9, pls. 78-79; see also a screen in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Yusho/Togan, Nihon bijutsu taikei, vol. 11, pl. 54). Togan's way of structuring landscape elements is seen in the right-hand screen, notably the V-shaped outline of the overhanging cliff and the tree that extends far out along the top of the screen, its trunk modeled to suggest volume and its foliage delineated with deep black ink.

There are many Immortals and their identity is often uncertain. On the left screen, on the far left, are two musicians - Cao Guo Ju (Jap. Sokokukiu), holding castanets, and another holding a flute. They look out at Han Xiang Zi (Jap. Kanshoshi), who floats on a tree trunk. On the right screen Li Tie Guai (Jap. Tekkai), probably the figure seated at the far right, exhales his spiritual essence in the form of a tiny figure of a man appearing in the upper left corner. At the forefront of the group Huang Chu-ping (Jap. Koshohei) demonstrates his supernatural powers by turning rocks into goats. Lin Hai (Jap. Gama), with a three-legged white toad on his back, is seated second from the right. Lü Dongbin (Jap. Ryotohin) carries his magical sword strapped to his back.