Blue Willow China

Chris' dad and step-mom have been collecting Blue Willow china for Chris for many, many years. (His sister has her own set of a different pattern. I think this is a very neat tradition they started.) A few months ago they gave him everything, hence the new china cabinet coming today! I had never really heard of it before, but I had seen it. It's a very well known pattern. As I was looking online to see what all was out there I came across the story behind it. I thought I would share the Blue Willow story becuase I love the story behind it. The pattern incorporates certain images from the story.

'Two birds flying high,

A Chinese vessel, sailing by.

A bridge with three men, sometimes four,

A willow tree, hanging o'er.

A Chinese temple, there it stands,

Built upon the river sands.

An apple tree, with apples on,

A crooked fence to end my song.'

Yet even today, many people have never heard the true story of the willow pattern. It tells of Knoon-shee, a lovely Chinese maiden, whose affections were bestowed upon her father's secretary, Chang, but who was commanded by her parents to wed a wealthy rival suitor. She refused to comply with their wishes, whereupon her enraged father locked her up in the little house just visible on the left of the temple. From here she contrived to send a message to her lover, 'Gather thy blossom, ere it be stolen.'
Thus encouraged, Chang succeeded in entering the apple orchard and carrying off his beloved.So we see them hurrying over the bridge. Knoon-shee with a distaff, and Chang carrying her box of jewels, pursued by the angry father brandishing a whip.
The lovers made good their escape in the 'little ship sailing by' and landed on the island, which can be seen on the left of the picture, where they took refuge in the little wooden house. But the father and discarded suitor tracked them and set fire to the house while they were sleeping and so the lovers perished.
Next morning their spirits rose, pheonix-like, in the form of two doves and we see them, with out-stretched wings, flying off to the realms of eternal happiness.
No one knows the origins of this story. It was told in China 2000 years ago and brought over to our country from Eastern lands by the Crusaders.

Here is a pic of the new hutch with some of the china in it.

*Update on landscaping: Chris finished putting all the blocks in. It looks great, he did a really good job and worked hard. He said he has some dirt coming tomorrow so maybe we can get some plants in soon!