This box is called a Presentation Box because it was presented as a gift, probably to a member of the Chinese nobility. The owner was free to put whatever he or she liked in the box. The old man in the scene from Hsi Wang-mu's gardens carries a staff that bears the character shou , for long life, and identifies him as the god of longevity. Other symbols that cover this presentation box stand for spring, wealth, and children. Peaches suggest many things in Chinese culture, among them springtime, marriage, fertility, and long life.
Apples are a traditional gift for teachers.
An apple demonstrated gravity for Newton. Johnny Appleseed is an American folk hero who traveled the country spreading apple seeds. Shifting perspectives within one composition is typical of Chinese perspective.