Gama Sennin is a Taoist sennin who usually has a toad on his shoulder. Sennin are the immortals, fairies and wizards of the Taoist tradition that evolved in ancient China. They are typically depicted as recluses living in mountainous areas. They often appear dressed in tattered robes or in cloaks of mugwort leaves. Chinese tradition holds that a three-legged toad inhabits the moon and causes lunar eclipses by swallowing the celestial body. The amphibian is reputed to have stunning powers of escape and a formidable knowledge of healing plants, and the toad is associated with Taoists who seek to develop these talents. Although Taoism never took hold as a formal religion in Japan, large numbers of sennin are represented in Japanese art.