Evening journal., 1921-05-26
LINKED
TO IMMORTALITY
Growers Association Finds
Fruit Originated Ages
Ago in China
SAVES BODY FROM
DISEASE, THEY SAY

FRESNO. Calif-What is the hid !
den secret OF the peach that caused
the Chinese away back in the dim
ages Of their civilization to link this
fruit with Immortality?
This question is being given con-
sideration by the research depart
ment OF the California Peach and
Fig Growers, Of Fresno. Calf. an or
ganization that boasts more than
5000 members. A solution OF the
question may have an effect on the
propagation OF peach varieties.
Recent investigators of the history
Of the peach have come to the con-
clusion that this fruit originated
somewhere in the vast Chinese EN-
pire, rather than in Persia, from
whence it has made its way around
the world. One OF the reasons for
this deduction is that the peach was
known as a cultivated fruit in China
before the word for peach had ap-
peared in Sanskrit, the ancient Aryan
language.
That the Chinese may have had
some variety, the properties Of which
originated the legend that the peach
was possessed OF miraculous powers,
as possible, although It is thought
by the searchers that the medicinal
and food values OF our present-day
fruit is what really originated the
belief.
The Chinese lore concerning the
properties of the peach are very an
cient, being enshrouded In tradition,
as the books in most cases dealing
with this subject have been lost. 1t
is the highly developed ancestor wor-
ship, with ITS traditions, that has
made il possible 10 retain early be-
liefs although Chinese literature in
the form OF poems have been found
dating back eighteen centuries.
Many of the traditions of The
Chinese refer to the peach as the
tree of life. Peaches OF long point,
large size and colored red on one
side, such as found SO abundantly
in California orchards, are regarded
as a symbol Of long life by the Chin
ese. As result of this belief, this
particular variety which corresponds
to the Pacific Coast Muir variety,
popular in drying. Is found in the
decorative schemes OF the Chinese
and is especially prominent at the
New Year festivities of the Orientals.
According to M. Cibot. a French
missionary familiar with Chinese
folklore, who wrote extensively on
!
tury nearly all ancient Chinese writ
ers linked the peach with immortal
d ity Some of Cibots quotations are
taken from very ancient texts.
He quotes from King
this passage: "The peach 'Yu' sig
nified eternal lie and death. II one
has been able to eat It enough times,
it saves the body from eternal cor
ruption TN the end Of the world; ;"
from Chin-y- King '"There is in the
Orient peach whose almond eaten,
makes life Oternal;" from Chou-y-
Ki, Whoever eats this fruit (the
peach 'Yu' from the Koueliou Noun
tains) obtains immortal life." Cibot
found a number of other ancient
texts all OF which connected the
nchcn Win AuHltlNalAtNs
Dr. Yamei Kin, writing for the
United states Department of Agri-
culture on plant immigrants. gives
interesting sidelghts on the tradl-
tions Of the Chinese, although his
article does not attempt to bring out
the origination OF the beliefs. He
says in the course Of his article:
"Taolsm from the early days has
p, taken the peach as its particular
y fruit, signifying longevity, much az
y the apples of Hesperides were sym
boiic in Grecian mythology.
y, "Furthermore, peach stones ar,
u often made into rosaries which ar,
- considered specially fine. There IL
!, a collection Of tales by one Cornab,
H. to be found in almost every librar,
: called "a String Of Peach stones.
p" And a host of legends cluster arounC
b the tale OF sun, the stone monkey
a eating the peaches OF Immortality
~ stolen from the gardens of the genii
/, whereby he obtains mortality. Thi
- theme is seen elaborated in man
scenes that decorate pottery, tex
~ tiles and congratulatory scrolls"
n There is one peculiarity Of IN
a Chinese which has given impetus
AZ the investigation, and which ma
y bring out some interesting result
is II is the general anupathy Of tn
r race for soft foods. The Chimes
have a penchant for drying thinl
H. they eSt from FISH to fruit
Al Numerous theories have been at
l. vanced to explain this peculiarit
,e among which is the belief that II
l. lack of storage facilities and II
r prevalence Of famines have som'
e. thing to do with II. The ease an
er economy Of dried products. it is vei
T. tured. developed the favor OF sue
he eatables
,y KRO KUS KLUB DANCE
er The dance held recently by III
~ -, L~tsa fsftth in ha Masonic IIn