of Pinus armandii in China. Chinese culture The tree, because of its evergreen foliage, is considered by the Chinese as an emblem of longevity and immortality. Its resin is considered an animated soul-substance, the counterpart of blood in men and animals. In ancient China, Taoist seekers of immortality consumed much of the tree's resin, hoping thereby to prolong life. Legend says that Qiu Sheng () who lived at the time of King Chengtang of Shang () (reigned 1675–1646 BCE), founder of the Shang Dynasty, was indebted for his longevity to pine-resin. The Shouxing, Chinese god of longevity (), is usually represented standing at the foot of a pine, while a fairy-crane perches on a branch of the tree. In traditional pictures of "happiness, honor and longevity" (), the pine-tree represents longevity, in the same manner as the bat symbolizes good fortune due to its homonymic association with the Chinese character for good luck (). A fungus, that the Chinese call Fu Ling grows on the root of the pine-tree, and is believed by the Chinese to suppress all sensations of hunger, cure various diseases, and lengthen life. References External links Pinus armandii cone photos (scroll ¾ way down page) armandii Trees of Myanmar armandii Flora of Shanxi Flora of Gansu Flora of Yunnan Flora of Anhui Trees of Taiwan Edible nuts and seeds Least concern plants