Page 223 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 216
‘Mandarin ducks in the dew’ is an expression for unmarried lovers. ‘Mandarin duck
union’ is one of the thirty positions in sexual intercourse.

Mandarin Orange (Tangerine)

gan

Like the other citrus fruits, the mandarin orange is native to China and South-East Asia.
In Taiwan it is customary for the bride, on entering her future husband’s house, to receive
two mandarin oranges which she peels in the evening. This is supposed to augur well for
a long happy life together. A tian-gan = ‘celestial tangerine’ is a ball with nails sticking
out of it which is used for self-mortification by shamans in their religious ceremonies.

Mandoline

pi-pa

The lute or mandoline seems to have originated in Iran. It is quite often used by shamans
in their spells and incantations. Probably because of a similarity in shape the yellow
loquat is also called pi-pa in Chinese: the fruit is a sign of good luck, and also seems to
symbolise love.
A picture showing a woman in winter clothing, riding a grey horse and carrying a
large mandoline, is a reference to Zhao-jun, who was one of the many concubines of a

certain Han Emperor. By the terms of a peace treaty with the Xiung-nu who lived in
North China, the Emperor had to hand over a princess to them: so he got his court painter
Mao to paint portraits of all his wives and concubines. Whereupon the ladies of the harem
bribed Mao to depict them as raving beauties. Only the modest Zhao-jun failed to do this,
so her picture showed her as very ill-favoured. Feeling that he could spare this one, the
Emperor sent her off to the Xiung-nu; she became one of the ruler’s wives. Later, the
Emperor realised his mistake, and had Mao executed.
The expression ‘Taking the mandoline under your arm’ refers to a woman who
remarries after the death of her husband.