Page 42 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

The decoration itself on the present dish is replete with auspicious
symbolism. The centre of the dish is decorated with a large peony.
The peony (mudan 牡丹), is often known as the ‘flower of wealth and
honour’ (fugui hua 富貴花), and the ‘king of flowers’. Its association
with royalty was established since it was grown in the Sui and Tang
emperors’ gardens. Scholars and poets too adored the peony, and
the famous scholar Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072) wrote his ‘Record of the
Peonies of Luoyang’ (洛陽牡丹記) immortalising them in the literary
canon. The peony was thus a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and royalty.

The peony is surrounded by pomegranate, lychee, peach, persimmon,
cherry and loquat. Along with the peony, the lychee would also have
had associations with royalty and the Tang dynasty. Lychees were
the favourite fruit of the Imperial consort Yang Guifei (719-756), and
the emperor had the fruit, which was only grown in the sub-tropical
south, delivered by the Imperial courier’s fast horses, whose riders
would take shifts day and night to the capital. Its red colour was also
a symbol of happiness and good fortune. Because of the multitude of
seeds, the pomegranate symbolised numerous children. The peach
symbolised long-life and Immortality as they were associated with the
Queen Mother of the West, whose peaches would grant Immortality.
The loquat because of its golden colour represents wealth, and gold,
cherry and cherry blossom has deep symbolic meaning strength and
beauty, heralding Spring and renewal. Finally, the persimmon is also a
symbol of good luck as persimmon (shi 柿) is a homophone for shi (事)
relating to business affairs and matter.

A related combination of peony and pomegranate can also be seen on
a blue and yellow dish, Xuande mark and period, illustrated by R.Krahl
and J.Harrison-Hall, Chinese Ceramics: Highlights of the Sir Percival
David Collection, London, 2009, pl.35.

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