[Journey to the West] How often is the Immortal Peach Banquet held?

The ‌Peach Garden‌(Garden of Immortal Peaches) is a celestial orchard in Heaven, owned by ‌Wangmu‌ (the Queen Mother of the West). It grows ‌Immortal Peaches‌, which are mystical fruits with life-extending properties‌. Eating the Peaches of Immortality is the primary method gods and deities use to extend their lifespans in the novel Journey to the West.

The Peach Banquet (also known as Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches, the Peach Festival, Peach Longevity Celebration, or Life-Extending Peach Gathering), is hosted by Wangmu (the Queen Mother of the West). She invites various deities to share peaches and celestial wine in the Jasper Pool.

How often is the Grand Peach Banquet held?

As specified in the novel, these peaches have different maturation cycles:

• Some ripen every 3,000 years,
• Others every 6,000 years,
• The finest ones every 9,000 years.

Do immortals need to wait 3,000, 6,000, or 9,000 years to eat them?

Not really! According to the text, even though the Peaches of Immortality take thousands of years to ripen, the gods can still feast on them annually.

The Bodhisattva led the crowd inside. After paying homage to the Jade Emperor, they also saluted Laozi and the Queen Mother. When each of them was seated, she asked, “How is the Grand Festival of Immortal Peaches?”

“Every year when the festival has been given,” said the Jade Emperor, “we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This year it has been completely ruined by a baneful monkey, leaving us with nothing but an invitation to disappointment.”

— Journey to the West, Chapter 6

This is because the celestial peaches are not bound by earthly limitations:

• They are unaffected by seasons or uniform harvest times.
• They can be cultivated at any time, and their maturation periods vary.

Thus, the Peach Banquet is held once a year in heavenly time (equivalent to roughly 360 human years), allowing deities to consume peaches regardless of their maturation cycles. The Queen Mother’s orchard contains peaches at all stages of growth, ensuring a continuous supply for the annual feast.