THE WILLOW TREE IN CHINESE CULTURE

A friend of mine had been suffering for burps for some time.  He seems to have developed the burping a couple of years back and the burping is so bad that it has become troublesome.  I asked my sifu about the situation and he suggested that my friend take a bath with an infusion of 7 colour flowers plus a few branches of the willow.  To the Chinese the willow branch symbolizes healing: especially for the heart. 
However, in Feng Shui this plant it is not advisable to grow this plant in ones garden as  according to landscape  Feng Shui principles advise this weeping tree brings down the energy of the place.  It is also representative of tears and sorrow.  The occupants of the house will have a tendency to feel depressed all the time.  That is why the plant is usually grown in parks and temples.  


CHINESE BELIEFS ABOUT THE WILLOW TREE
In China, some people carry willow branches with them on the day of their Tomb Sweeping or Qingming Festival. Willow branches are also put up on gates and/or front doors, which they believe help ward off the evil spirits that wanders on Qingming. Legend states that on Qingming Festival, the ruler of Hades allows the spirits of the dead to return to earth. Since their presence may not always be welcome, willow branches keep them away. In traditional pictures of the Goddess of Mercy Guanyin she is often shown seated on a rock with a willow-branch in a vase of water at her side. The Goddess employs this mysterious water and the branch for putting demons to flight. Taoist witches also use a small carving made from willow wood for communicating with the spirits of the dead. The image is sent to the nether world, where the disembodied spirit is deemed to enter it, and give the desired information to surviving relatives on its return.
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow