These steamed "Longevity Peach Buns" are a great favourite with the family because of their cute shape and tasty filling. Chinese legend has it that there is a celestial peach that ripens once every few thousand years and those who consume it will achieve immortality. Hence these buns are popular for Chinese birthday celebrations, especially for the elderly as they represent longevity. I usually buy them to offer to the deities on the lst and 15th of the Chinese lunar calendar. According to my research, the legend goes like this:
The link between peaches and longevity comes from The Queen Mother of the West, a Chinese goddess in the Taoist tradition. Also known as Xiwangmu, she grows the peaches of immortality in her garden on the mythical Kunlun mountain. Every three thousand years, she gathers together immortals to eat the ripe peaches so that they will become young again. The peach appears often in art and sculpture in China and nearby countries. One of the three gods of good luck, Shou Xing, is usually depicted carrying a staff in one hand and a longevity peach in the other, to symbolize his status as the god of long life and old age. (Courtesy of Atlas Obscura) So enjoy your peach buns and be an immortal!
No comments:
Post a Comment