Chinese Myths & Legends
The Story of the Willow Pattern
Long ago, in ancient China, there lived a Mandarin. He had an assistant named Chang. Chang saw the Mandarin's daughter, Koong-se, in the garden every day. Koong-se desperately wanted to see the outside world but her father had forbiden it, afraid that something might happen to her.
Chang and Koong-se met in the garden each day. They sat under a willow tree while Chang told her all about the wonderful things that could be seen outside the walled garden. They fell in love and decided to marry but Koong-se knew that her father would be furious and hesitated to tell him. The Mandarin found that Koong-se and Chang planned to marry. He banished Chang from the palace and ordered Koong-se never to see him again. Koog-se cried and cried when she heard that Chang had been banished.
That night Chang crept back into the garden and met Koong-se. A servant saw them crossing the little bridge over the stream and told the Mandarin. He sent the guards to arrest Chang. Just as the soldiers stepped forward to arrest Chang he suddenly turned into a bird. The soldiers were shocked. Koon-se ran across the bridge to escape and suddenly she too turned into a bird and flew up into the sky to join her true love. The Madarin never saw his daughter again. This story is retold on the blue and white pottery you see below.
Long ago, in ancient China, there lived a Mandarin. He had an assistant named Chang. Chang saw the Mandarin's daughter, Koong-se, in the garden every day. Koong-se desperately wanted to see the outside world but her father had forbiden it, afraid that something might happen to her.
Chang and Koong-se met in the garden each day. They sat under a willow tree while Chang told her all about the wonderful things that could be seen outside the walled garden. They fell in love and decided to marry but Koong-se knew that her father would be furious and hesitated to tell him. The Mandarin found that Koong-se and Chang planned to marry. He banished Chang from the palace and ordered Koong-se never to see him again. Koog-se cried and cried when she heard that Chang had been banished.
That night Chang crept back into the garden and met Koong-se. A servant saw them crossing the little bridge over the stream and told the Mandarin. He sent the guards to arrest Chang. Just as the soldiers stepped forward to arrest Chang he suddenly turned into a bird. The soldiers were shocked. Koon-se ran across the bridge to escape and suddenly she too turned into a bird and flew up into the sky to join her true love. The Madarin never saw his daughter again. This story is retold on the blue and white pottery you see below.