Chinese folk magic: 🍑PEACHES🍑

During this ongoing process of picking my nanna’s brain on Chinese folk practices (which I grew up around due to her babysitting me 24/7 but I didn’t pay attention because I was a lil’ shit), I realized something very interesting.

Anyone who is familiar with Chinese and Japanese cultures, knows that the peach is a tree of great significance in their native folkloric beliefs. But in Chinese practices specifically, the peach has so many different uses attributed to each different parts of the plant. It’s very interesting to see how so many drastically different associations can be attributed to one plant.

The peach blossom: this pretty bright pink flower represents romantic love, lust, bond, and deep friendship.

The peach fruit: the actual fruit is a symbol of longevity and long life, as well as wisdom which comes with old age. Traditionally, a giant steamed bun would be made in the shape of a peach for your birthday, and little sweet red cakes with sweet filling would be presented to the elders of the household on certain festivals to wish them a healthy long life.

The peach wood: the number one and most powerful tool for exorcism and a piece of peach wood carved into a sword hung at your door or gate WILL keep any and all demons/evil spirits/unwanted entities away. The same sword would also be an important tool for Taoist priests/shamans/sorcerers during exorcism rituals.It is believed that even a chunk of the wood with a crude drawing of the “Men’shen”, the deity of doors/gates/entryways, is one of the most potent forms of protection for one’s home.