Publisher's Synopsis
Tales from the Blue Willow follows the life of Princess Koong Shee, the only daughter of Prince KoongTso, a man who dared to meet with the gods (appearing to him as eight white tigers) to beg that his wife be allowed to bear him a child. The divinities not only grant him his special wish but promise to watch over her throughout her life. Through many glorious and hideous turns of fate she is promised in marriage, as a child, to Ta Jin, a very wealthy, but much older and ugly bell maker, who is also a warmonger. They are to be wed on her eighteenth birthday. Instead, as a teenager, she falls in love with Chang, her father's handsome and incredible falconer. On the day of the wedding they elope with plans to sail away and live together, forever, on a beautiful island far from shore.Of course this can not be, and her father, and her husband to be, are forced to send boats of soldiers to bring her home. In the midst of the vicious pursuit and an ensuing violent storm, Koong Shee and Chang make the decision to step from their boat into the waves together. At the moment they drown, two white doves are seen to appear in the sky above, where they fly forever, symboilzing true love..You will see them there on each of the millions of Blue Willow ware pieces in the world.
This story is packed with surprising characters including magicians, fairies, goddesses, divinities, and even a Fuzanglong dragon with an intriguing, compelling personality.
