The Story of the Willow Pattern
Years ago a wealthy, powerful Mandarin of the Chinese Empire lived with his beautiful daughter Knoon-se in a grand palace. Chang, a low born but intelligent and personable young man was employed as secretary to the Mandarin and fell hopelessly in love with his daughter who reciprocated his feelings. The Mandarin was furious and banned Chang from the estate while Knoon-se was imprisoned in a pavilion overlooking the river. Against her wishes he arranged for his daughter to marry the warrior duke Ta-jin.
The lonely Knoon-se befriended and fed many birds knowing her wedding would take place once the fruit tree outside her window was in bloom. Chang also cared for and spoke with birds and communicated to his lover through his feathered friends.
The tree was heavy with bud and near to blossom when the Duke arrived and presented his betrothed with a casket of jewels. Nights of celebration followed but Chang disguised himself as a servant and crept into the apartment to visit Knoon-se. The lovers embraced with tears of joy and grabbing the jewels, fled across the bridge to a boat that Chang had moored nearby.
They sailed to a far away land where they sold the jewels to buy a small pagoda and live in bliss. However, the vengeful Mandarin had captured all the birds in his garden but decided to release them and ordered his men to follow as they flew away. The murderous army set the pagoda alight while the couple slept and they perished in the flames.
The Gods took pity on the doomed lovers and blessed their undying devotion by granting them immortality. The souls of Knoon-se and Chang soared into the sky as turtledoves and were beyond fear and danger as they were forever free and symbolized eternal love.
This fan contains 17,828 Delica beads in 35 different colours.
