As it is Chinese New Year, we are going to tell a famous story – the story you see on a Willow Pattern plate.
Once upon a time in China, there was a very powerful Mandarin, who had a daughter. She was in love with one of her father’s account clerks.
The Mandarin was very angry when he found out, because the clerk was too low class to marry a noble princess. The poor clerk was banished from the palace, and a wall built all around it.
The Mandarin arranged a for a wealthy duke to marry his daughter, and the duke arrived by boat with a box of treasure.
The wedding was due to take place the day the blossom fell from the willow tree, but the night before, the clerk got into the palace, disguised as a servant and rescued his love.
The lovers took the treasure and left by the bridge over the moat, pursued by the angry Mandarin with his whip – but they got away!
They sailed away and lived happily on an island, but then the wicked Mandarin found out where they were, and sent his soldiers to kill them for defying him.
But the gods, moved by the sad story, turned the souls of the lovers into doves, to fly together forever.
A very Happy New Year of the Pig to all our friends!