The Willow Pattern Poem Is Still Represented In The Guilin Scenery Of Bridges, Chinese Vessels, and Willow Trees.
After 4 nights in Huaihua there was another train journey to Guilin. We travelled through parts of the country with spectacular scenery, in and out of tunnels through the karst mountains, with a brief glimpse of valleys in which were small groups of houses in the old styles, complete with Bird's Tail eves that would have pleased Yin very much. When we flew from Hong Kong in 1987, Guilin was our entry into a world 
about which we knew very little. At that time very few new developments were being made, it was the ''picturesque Guilin'' similar to the designs of the ''Willow Pattern'' you might find on plates. I think it was Mother telling us the story about the ''Willow Pattern'',
Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
that started my interest in China. The line in the Willow Pattern poem, ''A willow tree, hanging o'er.'' seemed to be about the Willow tree growing in our garden! Much has changed since our first visit to China, to the long overdue benefit of the local people who now have better houses and shops, roads and lights! Of course there are still beautiful parks and scenery to enjoy, and the local people make good use of them. ''The Willow Pattern'' can still be seen in the Guilin landscape, where Chinese men on bridges listen to the rustling of the leaves on the Willow Trees as the Chinese vessels sail under the bridge!
Before we left Guilin to return to Nanning, there was a banquet to attend. Twelve at table in a private room with an attendant waitress; Cantonese
style food to eat and wine to drink, yet the cost was less than £20. The meal was cheaper than one we had in Guilin more than 15 years earlier! We had been to the top of the highest mountain in Guilin and came down to enjoy a Dim Sum meal with Kate's family and friends. On that occasion there were ''13'' at table,
and one of the guests knocked over a cup of tea; do you believe the number 13 to be unlucky ?
about which we knew very little. At that time very few new developments were being made, it was the ''picturesque Guilin'' similar to the designs of the ''Willow Pattern'' you might find on plates. I think it was Mother telling us the story about the ''Willow Pattern'',Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
that started my interest in China. The line in the Willow Pattern poem, ''A willow tree, hanging o'er.'' seemed to be about the Willow tree growing in our garden! Much has changed since our first visit to China, to the long overdue benefit of the local people who now have better houses and shops, roads and lights! Of course there are still beautiful parks and scenery to enjoy, and the local people make good use of them. ''The Willow Pattern'' can still be seen in the Guilin landscape, where Chinese men on bridges listen to the rustling of the leaves on the Willow Trees as the Chinese vessels sail under the bridge!
Before we left Guilin to return to Nanning, there was a banquet to attend. Twelve at table in a private room with an attendant waitress; Cantonese
style food to eat and wine to drink, yet the cost was less than £20. The meal was cheaper than one we had in Guilin more than 15 years earlier! We had been to the top of the highest mountain in Guilin and came down to enjoy a Dim Sum meal with Kate's family and friends. On that occasion there were ''13'' at table,
and one of the guests knocked over a cup of tea; do you believe the number 13 to be unlucky ?
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The Willow Pattern
Cultural impact of the story: The story of the willow pattern was turned into a comic opera in 1901 called The Willow Pattern. It was also told in a 1914 silent film called Story of the Willow Pattern. Robert van Gulik also used some of the idea in his Chinese detective novel The Willow Pattern.
The old poem:
Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.
Src: Wikipedia.com. '''''
The Willow Pattern
Cultural impact of the story: The story of the willow pattern was turned into a comic opera in 1901 called The Willow Pattern. It was also told in a 1914 silent film called Story of the Willow Pattern. Robert van Gulik also used some of the idea in his Chinese detective novel The Willow Pattern.
The old poem:
Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.
Src: Wikipedia.com. '''''
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4th February, 2008
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