What exactly does "a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple" mean?

"A tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple" comes from a teasing piece by Su Dongpo mocking his friend, the ci poet Zhang Xian. The original text reads “in the mandarin duck quilt, a night of pairing; a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple.” Many people have heard of this line, but few know what it means. Let us take a look together below at what exactly "a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple" means!

The meaning of "a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple"

“A tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple” is a poetic way of saying “an old ox eats tender grass”. In this line, the pear blossoms are white, referring to the white-haired husband, while the crabapple is red, referring to the young beauty. A single word, “pressing,” says all the countless things left unsaid.

The origin of "a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple"

“A tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple” comes from a teasing piece by Su Dongpo of the Song Dynasty mocking his friend, the ci poet Zhang Xian. It is said that at the age of 80, Zhang Xian married an 18-year-old concubine, and in his excitement he wrote a poem:

I am eighty years old, you are eighteen; you are the beauty, I am white-haired.

Reversed, you and I are actually the same age, separated only by one sexagenary cycle in between.

When Su Dongpo learned of this, he teased:

An eighteen-year-old bride and an eighty-year-old groom; hoary white hair faces red makeup.

In the mandarin duck quilt, a night of pairing; a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple.

References to "a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple"

In the movie "Flirting Scholar", Tang Bohu is caught by the four great lechers - Lustful East, Base West, Lecherous South, and Randy North. To save his life, he falsely claims to be one of their own and describes himself with two lines of poetry. The plot goes as follows:

Thief A: “Just arrived and already seeing something so disgusting. What rotten luck.”

Thief B: “I hear the four fragrances of spring, summer, autumn, and winter are each as beautiful as flowers, and that Qiuxiang especially is to die for.”

Thief C: “Of course Qiuxiang goes to the boss.”

Thief A: “Boss, what do we do with this one? Kill him?”

Thief Boss: “Hey, this pair of lovebirds counts as one of us too. Just knock them out.”

Tang Bohu: “Wait, if I am not mistaken, you four must be the Four Great Lecherous Knights famous throughout Jiangnan.”

The four thieves: “Exactly, we are the Four Great Lecherous Knights - Lustful East, Base West, Thieving South, and Randy North.”

Tang Bohu: “Aiya, I am Zhou Botong, the little lecher who is jade-like in the wind, surpassing Pan An, a tree of pear blossoms pressing down on crabapple.”

Thief A: “Never heard of you.”

Thief Boss: “Hey, this guy even dares to go for such goods. The title of little lecher is well deserved.”

Tang Bohu: “That is a small case. I have even played with worse.”

Thief Boss: “Oh, then I should respectfully call you big brother.”

Tang Bohu: “I would not dare, I would not dare. I hear you four big brothers want to go in and have some fun with Qiuxiang, so let me lead the way.”

Thief Boss: “What, you want a second round?”

Tang Bohu: “Hehe...”

Thief Boss: “You go first.”

Thief Boss: “Wipe your soles clean, do not leave footprints.“