• Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rōrihakuchō Chōshun - 浪裡白跳張順) from the series <i>Mirror of Heroes of the Shuihuzhuan</i> (<i>Suikoden gōketsu kagami</i> - 水滸傳豪傑鏡)
Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rōrihakuchō Chōshun - 浪裡白跳張順) from the series <i>Mirror of Heroes of the Shuihuzhuan</i> (<i>Suikoden gōketsu kagami</i> - 水滸傳豪傑鏡)
Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rōrihakuchō Chōshun - 浪裡白跳張順) from the series <i>Mirror of Heroes of the Shuihuzhuan</i> (<i>Suikoden gōketsu kagami</i> - 水滸傳豪傑鏡)
Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rōrihakuchō Chōshun - 浪裡白跳張順) from the series <i>Mirror of Heroes of the Shuihuzhuan</i> (<i>Suikoden gōketsu kagami</i> - 水滸傳豪傑鏡)
Comments and Tags (0)
Share

Utagawa Yoshiharu (歌川芳春) (artist 1828 – 1888)

Zhang Shun, the White Streak in the Waves (Rōrihakuchō Chōshun - 浪裡白跳張順) from the series Mirror of Heroes of the Shuihuzhuan (Suikoden gōketsu kagami - 水滸傳豪傑鏡)

Print

12/1856
10 in x 14.75 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Ichibaisai Yoshiharu ga
一梅斎芳春画
Publisher: Yamaguchiya Tōbei
(Marks 591 - seal not listed)
Censor seal: aratame
Date: 12/1856
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Lyon Collection - Hakujitsuso Hakushō from this series Zhang Shun is the younger brother of Zhang Heng. See Lyon Collection items #s 715 and 904. Zhang Shun is first mentioned in Chapter 37 of The Heroes of the Water Margin when his older brother describes him: "He's a remarkable boy, with skin as white as snow. Not only can he swim forty or fifty li on the surface of the water, he can stay below for seven days and seven nights. Because he's like a white streak in the water and because he's so skilled with arms, he's been nicknamed White Streak in the Waves."

Zhang Heng described how he and his brother ran a scam. "“Whenever we lost at gambling, I would take our boat to a quiet shore and ferry people across the river. Travellers who wanted to save money and get to the other side quickly would board my craft. When I was full up, my brother Zhang Shun would come along, disguised as a passenger also, with a large bundle on his back. I'd row to the center of the river, stop, cast anchor, take out a big cutlass and demand passage money. My agreed price had been five hundred coppers, but I demanded three thousand. I asked my brother, first, and he pretended to refuse. Grabbing him by neck and waist, I threw him kaplunk into the water. Then I went to each of the others for my three thousand. They were all scared stiff. Every one of them paid up. After I collected, I delivered them to a secluded spot on the opposite shore. My brother had already swum underwater and reached the bank. As soon as the passengers were gone, he joined me, we divided the money and went gambling. That was how we earned our living.”

****

Illustrated in a color reproduction in Ukiyo-e to Horimono: the history and art of Japanese Prints and Tattooing by Jan van Doesburg, 2013, cat. 053.
Yamaguchiya Tōbei (山口屋藤兵衛) (publisher)
Suikoden (水滸傳) (genre)
Tattoo (genre)