Bottle Vase with 'Nine Peach' in Overglazed Famille-rose

Peach is regarded as one of the major symbols of longevity. According to the legend, Queen Mother of West, the most revered goddess of Taoist legend who lives in Mount Kunlun in the west planted a peach tree in the field called Pántáo-yuán. The flowers of the said peach tree would bloom once in every 3,000 years and bear fruits in another 3,000 years. Since the peach guarantees immortality to anyone who eats it, the naturally peach came to represent longevity. When the peaches are ready to be harvested Queen Mother of West would hold a special banquet and invite other deities to commemorate the occasion. This scene was long adopted and reproduced in many forms of Chinese art including painting, craft, drama and novel due to the importance of the theme that calls out for longevity.