The image of apples, in addition to cue a pun on the ideal of ‘universal peace’, may be combined with lychee or tangerine to form pictorial puns with added meaning.

The Chinese characters ‘荔 li’ in ‘荔枝 li zhi’ for ‘lychee’ puns on the word ‘利 li’ for ‘benefit’ or ‘profit’, while the character ‘橘 ju’ for ‘tangerine’ puns on ‘吉 ji’ for ‘good luck’. Therefore, a composition with apples, lychees, and tangerines in it may be used to convey an auspicious wish ‘May We Enjoy Peace, Good Fortune, and Prosperity’.

Related Pun Picture:

May you be trouble-free and roll in wealth 平安多利

• Fig 1: Taiping Jili, ink and colour on paper, Qi BaiShi (1864-1957), private collection