In ancient Chinese mythology, plants and flowers can cultivate spiritual awareness over centuries, transforming into demons or immortals. Journey to the West features such beings, notably in Chapter 64, where tree spirits—including the Apricot Immortal—play pivotal roles.
“Squire Eight-and-Ten,” replied Pilgrim, “is the pine; Squire Lonesome Rectitude is the cypress; Master Void-Surmounting is the juniper; Cloud-Brushing Dean is the bamboo; the scarlet-bodied demon is the maple; Apricot Immortal is, of course, the apricot tree, while the maids are the cassia and the winter plum.” When Eight Rules heard this, he rushed forward without further ado: using his rake along with several shoves of his snout, he brought to the ground those winter plum, cassia, old apricot, and maple. From beneath the roots of these trees, fresh blood indeed spurted out. Tripitaka walked forward to pull at him, saying, “Wuneng, don’t hurt them. Though they have reached the stage of becoming spirits, they have done me no harm. Let us find our way and leave.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 64
Characteristics of Plant Spirits
Moreover, these plant and tree spirits, after taking human form, often retain traits of their original forms. For example, flower spirits are typically women of great beauty, and the color of their robes often matches that of their original plant. A prime example is the female spirit of the apricot tree in Journey to the West, who wears a pale red skirt.
Their personalities and actions are also tied to their botanical symbolism within Chinese culture
Why the Apricot Immortal?
Why did the author of Journey to the West choose the apricot tree spirit to seduce Monk Tang? Or, phrased differently, why not select another female demon to tempt men?
This relates to traditional Chinese culture. In Chinese tradition, both peach blossoms and apricot blossoms can symbolize beautiful women or romantic relationships between men and women. However, there are distinctions. Peach blossoms typically represent beautiful love and happy marriages, while apricot blossoms, in certain contexts, may allude to proactive or unconventional behaviors of women in matters of emotion and action, such as adultery.
- Peach Blossoms: Symbolize romantic love and marital harmony.
- Apricot Blossoms: In certain contexts, carry connotations of unconventional female agency—particularly proactive or transgressive behavior in relationships, such as infidelity.
This explains why the apricot tree spirit attempted to seduce Tang Sanzang.
By weaving botanical symbolism into Tang Sanzang’s trials, Journey to the West underscores that enlightenment requires resisting not just obvious evils but also the seductive masks of beauty and intellect.
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