Even though the Blue Willow pattern has a Chinese look and story , it was actually created in England in 1780. Thomas Minton. Then, Minton sold the design to potter Thomas Turner who mass-produced the pattern on earthenware. This is known as chinoiserie, basically European interpretations of Chinese decorative styles. Chinoiserie was very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. 

 

 true Blue Willow pattern it must include:

 willow trees

Chinese pine trees (commonly confused as apple or orange trees)

a bridge with three men on it

a fence

a boat

a teahouse (or pagoda) 

two birds in flight. (doves)

 

 The Willow Pattern Story 

It began with a Chinese Lord's daughter falling in love with a servant boy, her father did not agree to this relationship and promised her to another Lord. The daughter and her beloved servant boy ran away together to a far off island where they lived together and were very happy. The Lord found out where they were hiding and sent 3 assassins (crossing the bridge) 

They found the Lord`s daughter and her boyfriend and they killed him , she committed suicide in grief of a broken heart and the Chinese Gods took great pity on the two souls, so they brought them both back to life in the form of two doves which stayed together in great happiness.