The decoration of this bowl is rich in symbolism. Persimmons, shi, are a rebus for 'things', and ruyi represents 'as you wish', together these symbols form shishi ruyi, meaning 'may everything be as you wish'.

An ivory bowl and cover of similar form but decorated with peaches and bats is preserved in the collection of the Palace Museum and is illustrated in The Palace Museum Collection of Elite Carvings, Beijing, 2002, p. 218, no. 166.