The night before Koong-se was to wed the duke, Chang disguised himself and slipped into the house and escaped with Koong-se (and the jewels).

Once upon a time there was a wealthy Mandarin, who had a beautiful daughter named Koong-se. The Mandarin had plans for Koong-se to marry a powerful Duke. But Koong-se had fallen in love with her father’s humble clerk (Chang). Obviously, this could not happen because of the difference in their social class. Their love was discovered by her father who built a high fence around his house to keep the lovers apart. The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bringing a box of jewels as a gift. The wedding was to take place the day the blossom fell from the willow tree.

The alarm was raised and they ran over the a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, whip in hand. They escaped to the Duke’s ship sailed to a secluded island where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke discovered their hiding place and sent soldiers who captured and killed the two. The gods, moved up ni by their plight, then transformed the lovers into a pair of doves. »

Blue Willow and other blue ware from my cousin Judy.
To read more about Blue Willow dishware and the continuing text. Please click on this text.


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