Abstract
This paper examines the globally ubiquitous blue-and-white Willow Pattern, a ceramic design originating from 18th-century British potteries as an imagined vision of China that commodified Chinese artistic traditions and became a potent, invented symbol of “Chineseness” abroad. Using historical analysis of its origins, embedded symbolism, romantic legend, and shifting cultural interpretations across centuries, the study finds that China gradually reclaimed this Western-invented image from the 19th to 20th centuries, transforming it from a symbol of Orientalist exoticism into one of national heritage and resilience. In the 21st century, its enduring presence and creative adaptation reflect China’s active role in shaping its global cultural narrative. Overall, the Willow Pattern’s journey from British invention to contested cultural artifact and finally an embraced emblem of modern Chinese identity mirrors China’s broader path toward asserting cultural confidence on the global stage, highlighting the dynamic interplay between artistic tradition, global commodification, and the power of cultural symbols in shaping national identity.
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