18TH-19TH CENTURY

The scene on this poem slip container is filled with symbols of longevity which are associated with birthday gifts and congratulations. Pine, bamboo and prunus are known as the 'Three Friends of Winter', as both bamboo and pine are evergreens and prunus or plum is the first tree to bloom each year, and all are known to last a long time. The pine (song) and cranes (he) together also symbolize longevity, and the pine tree (song), bamboo (zhu), rock (shoushi) and fungus (lingzhi) together represent the wish 'May the aged pine honor you with longevity (songling gongshou).