Fu shou wu guo, the five fruits
Five kinds of fruit on the square table in the birthday hall: fingered citron, banana, pomegranate, longan and large mandarin.
Pronunciation fú shòu wǔ guǒ｜Rites of life｜One entry in the Chaoshan glossary
What it means
Five kinds of fruit are set on the table of the birthday hall: fingered citron, banana, pomegranate, longan and a large mandarin. They go on two plates, one to each side, on the same square table as the long-life noodles and the peach buns, with the censer in front and a pair of red candles burning at the sides.
What each stands for differs by place. The common reading: the citron for blessing, the pomegranate for many sons, the longan for reunion, the mandarin for luck. The banana is either read as an invitation, by the sound, or simply as the fifth colour in the set.
When you see it
They are set out as soon as the hall is dressed and stay until the tables are cleared. Nobody eats them on the spot; they are taken down afterwards and given to the children and grandchildren.
Words easily confused
These five are the furnishings of the birthday hall, not the five fruits offered to the gods in a temple: the number happens to match, the use does not. Nor are they the longevity peaches, which are made of glutinous rice flour and eaten, while these are fresh fruit.
Read next: Birthday rites: from shang shou to the cai xian table.
See also: Rites of life: the five thresholds side by side.
Same group: the birthday bows, the birthday table.
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Last revised: 4 November 2026