BACK TO BLUE WILLOW   THE BLUE WILLOW STORY In ancient China Koong-shee, the beautiful daughter of the wealthy Mandarin Lin-yu, fell in love with her father's secretary Chang. Her father, appalled at the unsuitability of the match, immediately banished Chang and betrothed Koong-shee to the wealthy but elderly Ta Jin. The lovers eloped and were pursued across the bridge. They made their escape by boat to their island refuge but were caught and Chang was executed. Koong-shee, unwilling to be parted from her faithful love even in death, ran into the pagoda and set fire to it. The Gods, watching this tragedy unfold, took pity on them and turned them into a pair of immortal doves soaring above the beautiful willow tree where we can still see them today.                         HOME :: FINE CHINA :: GALLERY :: PRICE LIST ORDER :: EVENTS :: PROJECTS :: LINKS :: ARCHIVE         STOKESAY WARE 37 Sandbrook Road, Stoke Newington London N16 0SH, UK Telephone 020 7254 5242 International +44 20 7254 5242 email peter@stokesayware.com         Content, design & graphics copyright © Karen Griffiths 2000