Peach fruit

桃

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The peach fruit usually symbolises longevity or immortality in Chinese pictorial art. The origin of this idea started from legends dating back to the third century. Read Dr Yibin Ni‘s research article for related literatures and legendary stories from ancient China.

As a symbol of longevity, the peach fruit is often paired with the other potent symbols with similar meaning, such as the crane, the lingzhi (灵芝 fungus), and the shou 寿 character for ‘longevity’, and is also associated with legendary immortals such as the monkey or the Monkey King (Sun Wukong 孙悟空), the Old Man of the South Pole (南极仙翁), also known as the Star God of Longevity (寿星), and Dongfang Shuo (东方朔), whose prominent deeds include stealing divine peaches from the Queen Mother’s peach garden.

Eight Daoist Immortals 八仙

May you enjoy long life and always be blessed by good fortune 福寿万年

Acknowledgement:

Fig 1-2: porcelain vase with nine peaches, Qianlong period (1736-95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Fig 3: porcelain dishes, Kangxi period (1662-1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the British Museum, London

Fig 4: dish, Yongzheng period (1723-35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Fig 5: dish, Yongzheng period (1723-35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the British Museum, London

Fig 6: famille rose enamelled vase, Qianlong period (1736-95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the British Museum, London

Fig 7: pair of vases, Qianlong period (1736-95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Fig 8: water dropper, Ming-Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 9: porcelain dish, Kangxi period (1662-1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art

Fig 10-11: snuff-bottles, Qianlong period (1736-95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 12: round box with lid, Wanli period (1573-1620), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the Museum of East Asian Art (Cologne)

Fig 13-14: porcelain dish, early Qing dynasty, Sotheby’s auction 2021

Fig 15: polychrome saucer dish, 1552-1566, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art