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Sanmao (comic book character)
Encyclopedia
Sanmao is a manhua
character created by Zhang Leping
in 1935. He is one of the world's longest running cartoon characters and remains one of the most famous and beloved fictional characters in China
today.
The name Sanmao means "three hairs" in Chinese
. While the character has undergone a number of transitions over time, he has always been drawn with the trademark three strands of hair, which implies malnutrition as a result of poverty.
Most Chinese comic books prior to Sanmao featured adults and the Sanmao 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 of the war, particularly the orphans living on the streets. Most of the changes in the characters would come after WWII
during the liberation in 1949.
Sanmao's image is now that of a healthy, normal 21st century student. The character has been portrayed as living through some of the most important periods in Chinese history and to futuristic space explorations.
, colonization, and inflation
.
and was later adapted into different formats.
Manhua
Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
character created by Zhang Leping
Zhang Leping
Zhang Leping was a comic artist born in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China. He played a key role in the development of modern manhua in China, and is mostly remembered for his work in Sanmao.-Early history:...
in 1935. He is one of the world's longest running cartoon characters and remains one of the most famous and beloved fictional characters in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
today.
The name Sanmao means "three hairs" in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
. While the character has undergone a number of transitions over time, he has always been drawn with the trademark three strands of hair, which implies malnutrition as a result of poverty.
History
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
war. He wanted to express his concern for the young victims of the war, particularly the orphans living on the streets. Most of the changes in the characters would come after WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during the liberation in 1949.
Sanmao's image is now that of a healthy, normal 21st century student. The character has been portrayed as living through some of the most important periods in Chinese history and to futuristic space explorations.
Story
The comic takes place mainly during the 1930s and early 1940s and is set in Old Shanghai in its "golden" era. Sanmao lived mostly in misery and stark poverty against a backdrop of warWar
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, colonization, and inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
.
Adaptations
The character made his first appearance in manhuaManhua
Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
and was later adapted into different formats.
| Chinese Name | English Name | Year | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Online game | China | ||
| Wanderings of Sanmao Wanderings of Sanmao Wanderings of San Mao is a Chinese animation TV series in China based on the famous manhua character Sanmao. The series was invested, produced and broadcast by CCTV. It is also known as "Story of San Mao's Vagrant Life" or "New Adventures of San Mao".-Background:The main character of the... |
2006 | Cartoon | China | |
| 2005 | Stage Theatre | China | ||
| 2005 | 3D | China | ||
| 2004 | Movie | China | ||
| 2000 | Theatrical | Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
||
| 1999 | TV Soap Series | China | ||
| 1997 | Stage Theatre | Hong Kong | ||
| 1996 1998 |
TV Soap Series | China | ||
| 1992 | Movie | China | ||
| 1990 | Drama | China | ||
| Wanderings of Sanmao | 1984 | Cartoon | China | |
| 1958 | Movie | China | ||
| 1958 | Puppet Film | China | ||
| 1949 | Movie | China | ||
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 PingSanmao (author)Sanmao , literally "three hairs" though it is not considered to have a meaning, was the pseudonym of the popular Taiwanese author Chen Ping . She adopted her pseudonym from the acclaimed caricaturist Zhang Leping's most famous work "Sanmao", which tells the story of a Shanghai street child named...
(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.
External links
- "Sanmao, China's favorite son turns 70" - China DailyChina DailyThe China Daily is an English language daily newspaper published in the People's Republic of China.- Overview :China Daily was established in June 1981 and has the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper in the country...
- Sanmao website
- Official Sanmao website
- Sammao comic strips, photos, movie clips and history AsiaObscura.com