On this page you will find links to online shops that sell Blue Willow dishes and decorative items. If you know of such a website that is not listed, or you have comments or questions about this website, you can E-Mail Me.

The Blue Willow legend has been told for thousands of years. In ancient China, in a grand palace surrounded by trees, lived a Mandarin with his daughter, Koong-shee, and his secretary, Chang. Chang and Koong-shee fell in love, but Chang was a commoner and she the daughter of nobility. They met secretly beneath a willow tree in the garden. When the Mandarin discovered their secret, he banished Chang & imprisoned his own daughter by encircling the palace with a zig-zag fence.

Then the mandarin promised his daughter's hand in marriage to another. He held a celebration feast and later when all were sleeping, Chang crept into the palace and fled with Koong-shee, The Mandarin awoke and pursued them across the little bridge over the river.

The two escaped, but soon the Mandarin discovered where they were hiding and sent his men to kill the couple. The killers came upon Chang as he was working his fields and murdered him. Koong-shee, who had witnessed the entire scene from a distance, ran into the pavilion and set it afire. She was determined to be with Chang in death as she had been in life.

The gods, seeing this horrible tragedy, took pity on the two lovers and transformed their souls into a pair of immortal lovebirds. We can still see Chang and Koong-shee, flying over the willow tree where they first pledged their love.  Their story lives forever on the Willow pattern, which has been one of the most popular patterns of dinnerware for over two hundred years.

Thanks to Zenegata for help
with the music. Please visit
Zenegata's Ryokan