The origin of peach wood is China, and peaches are now grown throughout the world. For thousands of years, it has held a significant place in Chinese culture and beliefs, used in repelling evil, attracting auspiciousness, promoting longevity, and healing.
Keeping the Home Safe
Since time immemorial, peach wood has been reputed to protect against evil. According to myth, ancient peoples were troubled by ghosts and demons. As such, the Jade Emperor sent two gods to the human world to drive the evil away and instructed them to make staffs of peach wood to be used as weapons. Later, people would carve the images of the two gods on a piece of peach wood and hang it on their door as a safety charm to repel negative influences. During the Song dynasty, peach wood was combined with spring couplets for the same purpose. Door gods and couplets are still prevalent nowadays; they are both related to peach wood.
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The Yang Attribute and the Essence of Five Kinds of Wood
The people of the ancient world believed that peach wood composes the essence of five other types of wood; its yang attribute opposes the yin attribute of all evil beings, making it the best talisman with which to fight evil. According to the legend, when Kuafu was chasing after the sun, his stick became a wood of peach trees. The stick had absorbed strong energy from the sun, so the peach wood created from it became “godly wood” with intense yang energy.
Peach wood’s texture is described as fine and even, with a slight fruity fragrance, making it a popular choice for the carving of ornaments, accessories and decorations to ward off negativity. It is also one of the top choices of religious and dharma practitioners for making dharma vessels to repel evil influences.
The Symbol of Longevity
Peach wood also symbolizes longevity. According to myth, the peach trees grown in Heaven bear fruit once every 3,000 years. As such, it was said that eating a Heavenly peach adds 600 years to your lifespan.
Also, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners believe that peach wood is warm in nature and effective in calming the mind, soothing bruises and improving metabolism. Chinese people favor using a comb made of peach wood to unblock the channels in the head, which helps to relieve fatigue, regulate qi and improve hair quality.
Combs made of peach wood
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