become "eternal as heaven and earth, as long-lived as the sun and moon." As the Protector, Sun realizes the effects of the sacred peaches and acts quickly as to consume one, before he runs into trouble when Xi Wangmu arrives to hold a peach banquet for many members of Heaven. Sun Wukong makes himself very small to hide within a peach during the banquet, before consuming more, thus gaining immortality and the abilities that come with the peaches. Later on, Sun Wukong has a second chance to eat a fruit of immortality. A tree grows behind a monastery run by a Taoist master and his disciples, though the master is away. Once every 10,000 years, the tree bears 30 of the legendary Man-fruit, which just like newborn babies, complete with sense organs. The man-fruits grant 360 years of life to one who merely smells them and 47,000 years of life to one who consumes them. Fruits of immortality are not seen again after this point in the novel. Others Members of the Eight Immortals and the Old Man of the South Pole (a longevity deity) are sometimes depicted carrying a Peach of Immortality. Because of the stories and the peach's association with long-life, peach is a common decoration (the fruit or an image thereof) on traditional birthday cakes and pastries in China. See also Ambrosia, Greek food of immortality Golden apple, Norse food of immortality Kunlun Mountain (mythology), the mythological residence of Xi Wangmu; not originally identical with the modern "Mount Kunlun" Longevity peach, a pastry representation of Peaches of Immortality "The Peach Blossom Spring", a fable of utopia Trees in Chinese mythology Notes Journey to the West Trees in religion Prunus Mythological food and drink Mythological plants Peaches Taoist immortals