Chinese prickly ash: symbol of fecundity
As the plant contains multiple kernels, Chinese prickly ash represented fecund marriages. Therefore, back in the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BC) this seasoning became a symbol of love.
In the Book of Songs, one of the origins of Chinese poems, a story was told about a maiden who sent a bouquet of prickly ashes as a token of love to her beloved man promising to have many of his children after marriage.
Fruit: brings a good wife
When it comes to romance, the Book of Songs can be an excellent reference as it contains various stories about ancient Chinese culture. In a poem entitled "Carica Papaya," a man received fruit including papaya, peaches, and plums from the woman he loved. He then sent several jade pendants to the woman to answer her love.
The story, takes place in ancient society where women were in charge of picking fruits to support the family. It was indeed quite romantic for ladies to show a man with fruit her willingness to become his wife and to help support the family.
Hair: the most precious gift
Ancient Chinese people respected their bodies, including their hair, as they were gifts from their parents. Therefore, it was rather common in the past for maidens to send a lock of their hair to their lovers to show their deep affection.
Ornaments broken in half: until we meet again
Ornaments broken in half might be the most common way in ancient China for lovers to remind each other of their love when one of them traveled away from home.
Lovers would break a jade ornament into two halves and each of them would keep a half until they met again and the two parts would be united. Of course, such tokens of love could be anything including a broken mirror or even a box. As long as they were things that belonged to their beloved ones, they could be a token of love.
