Sanmao

Sanmao (Chinese: 三毛) is a manhua character created by Zhang Leping in 1935. He remains one of the most famed and beloved fictional characters in China today. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Manhua (Traditional Chinese: 漫畫; Simplified Chinese: 漫画; Pinyin: ) is a general term for comics produced in China, often including Chinese translations of Japanese manga. ... Zhang Leping Zhang Leping (Chinese: 张乐平, November 10, 1910 - September 27, 1992) was a comic artist born in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ...

Character

The name Sanmao means "three hairs" in Chinese. While the character have gone through a number of transitions over time, he is always drawn with the trademark 3 pieces of hair, which implies malnutrition as a result of poverty.

History

Sanmao in the 1948 Shanghai newspaper. He is a street freak show acrobat in this segment, with the poster on eletric pole saying "Celebrate Fourth of April Children's Day."

Most Chinese comic book prior to Sanmao featured adults. The stories were also unusual in that they lacked dialogue. When Zhang Leping created the manhua comic series, his main goal was to dramatize the confusion brought about to society by the Second Sino-Japanese War war. He wanted to express his concern for the young victims, particularly the real orphans on the streets. Most of the changes in the characters would come after WWII during the liberation in 1949. Sanmao would be the representation of the orphans. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Combatants Republic of China Empire of Japan Commanders Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, Yan Xishan, Feng Yuxiang, Li Zongren, Xue Yue, Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai Fumimaro Konoe, Hideki Tojo, Matsui Iwane, Jiro Minami, Kesago Nakajima, Toshizo Nishio, Yasuji Okamura, Umezu Yoshijiro Strength 5,600,000 4,100,000 (including 900... German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ...

Today Sanmao the fictional character has one of the longest running streak in terms of making movie, cartoon or book appearances among any culture. Sanmao's image has also transformed from a hungry, homeless boy to a healthy, regular 21st century student^[1]. Depending on the production, the character has gone as far as living through some of the most important historical periods in China to futuristic space explorations.

Story

The comic takes place mainly in Shanghai during the 1930s and early 1940s. The story centers around the character Sanmao, who was a homeless orphan. The series tells the adventures of Sanmao in Old Shanghai in its "golden" era. Sanmao lived mostly in misery and stark poverty against a backdrop of war, colonization, and inflation. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Orphans, by Thomas Kennington An orphan (from the Greek ορφανός) is a person (or animal), who has lost both parents, often through death. ... Look up war in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ...

Adaptations

The character made his first appearance in manhua and was later adapted into different formats^[2]. Manhua (Traditional Chinese: 漫畫; Simplified Chinese: 漫画; Pinyin: ) is a general term for comics produced in China, often including Chinese translations of Japanese manga. ...

Wanderings of Sanmao (Chinese: 三毛流浪记) is a Chinese animation TV series in China based on the famous manhua character Sanmao. ...

Further reading

Farquhar, Mary Ann. "Sanmao: Classic Cartoons and Chinese Popular Culture" In Asian Popular Culture edited by John A. Lent (1995).

Trivia

• The renowned late Taiwanese writer Chen Ping (1943-91) chose "San Mao" as her pen name out of her deep sympathy for the lonely, homeless boy.

• The Hong Kong movie star Sammo Hung Kam-Bo was given the name Sammo because of his supposed resemblance to Sanmao.

Sammo Hung (洪金寶; pinyin: Hóng Jīnbǎo; Cantonese: Hung4 Gam1 Bou2) (born 1950) is a Kung Fu movies actor and director. ...

References

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• "Sanmao, China's favorite son turns 70" - China Daily
• Sanmao website
• Official Sanmao website