Immortal Peaches
Encyclopedia
In Chinese mythology
, Peaches of Immortality are consumed by the immortals
due to its mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who ate them. It appears in a number of fables and paintings.
, and his wife Xi Wangmu
(Queen Mother of the West), ensured the gods' everlasting existence by feeding them the peaches of immortality. The immortals residing in the palace of Xi Wangmu were said to celebrate an extravagant banquet called the "Feast of Peaches" (蟠桃會 Pántáo Huì, or 蟠桃勝會 Pántáo Shènghuì). The immortals waited six thousand years before gathering for this magnificent feast; the peach tree put forth leaves once every thousand years and it required another three thousand years for the fruit to ripen. Statues depicting Xi Wangmu's attendants often held three peaches. And the Eight Immortals
crossing the seas to attend the banquet is a popular subject in paintings.
Both the Stories of the Emperor Wu and Research into Nature wrote about an imaginary meeting between the Emperor Wu of Han
and the Queen Mother of the West offering the Peach to him.
. The first time in which these immortal peaches were seen had been within heaven when Sun Wukong
had been stationed as the Protector of the Peaches. As the Protector, Sun quickly realized the legendary effects of the immortal peaches if they were to be consumed – over 1,000 years of life after the consumption of a single peach – and acted quickly as to consume one. However, he ended up running into many fragments of trouble such as a certain queen that was planning on holding a peach banquet for many members of Heaven. He manages to make himself very small and hide within a sacred peach. Later on within the series, he would have another chance to eat an immortal fruit – in which would be his second time. A certain 1000 feet (304.8 m) tree was stationed behind a monastery run by a Taoist master and his disciples – in which the master had been gone. After this point within the novel, these Immortal Peaches would never be seen again.
and the Old Man of the South Pole
(a longevity deity) are sometimes depiced carrying a Peach of Immortality.
Because of the stories, peach is a common decoration (the fruit or an image thereof) on traditional birthday cakes and pastries in China.
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
, Peaches of Immortality are consumed by the immortals
Xian (Taoism)
Xian is a Chinese word for an enlightened person, translatable in English as:*"spiritually immortal; transcendent; super-human; celestial being"...
due to its mystic virtue of conferring longevity on all who ate them. It appears in a number of fables and paintings.
Peach Banquets
The Jade EmperorJade Emperor
The Jade Emperor in Chinese folk culture, is the ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below including that of Man and Hell, according to a version of Taoist mythology. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religion pantheon...
, and his wife Xi Wangmu
Xi Wangmu
Xi Wangmu, literally Queen Mother of the West , is an ancient Chinese goddess, also known in Japan and Korea. Her origins can be traced back to oracle bone inscriptions of the 15th century BCE that record sacrifices to a "western mother". Even though these inscriptions illustrate that she predates...
(Queen Mother of the West), ensured the gods' everlasting existence by feeding them the peaches of immortality. The immortals residing in the palace of Xi Wangmu were said to celebrate an extravagant banquet called the "Feast of Peaches" (蟠桃會 Pántáo Huì, or 蟠桃勝會 Pántáo Shènghuì). The immortals waited six thousand years before gathering for this magnificent feast; the peach tree put forth leaves once every thousand years and it required another three thousand years for the fruit to ripen. Statues depicting Xi Wangmu's attendants often held three peaches. And the Eight Immortals
Eight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
crossing the seas to attend the banquet is a popular subject in paintings.
Both the Stories of the Emperor Wu and Research into Nature wrote about an imaginary meeting between the Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
and the Queen Mother of the West offering the Peach to him.
Journey to the West
It is a major item featured within the popular fantasy novel Journey to the WestJourney to the West
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. In English-speaking countries, the tale is also often known simply as Monkey. This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley...
. The first time in which these immortal peaches were seen had been within heaven when Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong
Sun Wukong , also known as the Monkey King is a main character in the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West . In the novel, he is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices...
had been stationed as the Protector of the Peaches. As the Protector, Sun quickly realized the legendary effects of the immortal peaches if they were to be consumed – over 1,000 years of life after the consumption of a single peach – and acted quickly as to consume one. However, he ended up running into many fragments of trouble such as a certain queen that was planning on holding a peach banquet for many members of Heaven. He manages to make himself very small and hide within a sacred peach. Later on within the series, he would have another chance to eat an immortal fruit – in which would be his second time. A certain 1000 feet (304.8 m) tree was stationed behind a monastery run by a Taoist master and his disciples – in which the master had been gone. After this point within the novel, these Immortal Peaches would never be seen again.
Others
Members of the Eight ImmortalsEight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
and the Old Man of the South Pole
Old Man of the South Pole
The Old Man of the South Pole is the Taoist deification of Canopus, the brightest star of the constellation Carina. It is the symbol of happiness and longevity in Far Eastern culture.-General:...
(a longevity deity) are sometimes depiced carrying a Peach of Immortality.
Because of the stories, peach is a common decoration (the fruit or an image thereof) on traditional birthday cakes and pastries in China.
See also
- “Peach Blossom Spring”, a fable of utopia
- AmbrosiaAmbrosiaIn ancient Greek mythology, ambrosia is sometimes the food or drink of the Greek gods , often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whoever consumes it...
, Greek food of immortality