The Story of Sanmao Joining the Army · Upper and Lower

Author: Zhang Leping Hong Peiqi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In 1937, the crisis of the Chinese nation reached its final point, and the country entered a state of emergency. The homeless Sanmao joined the army. The new recruit training began, and Sanmao, wearing a "huge" military uniform, stood solemnly in the ranks. During the live grenade throwing training, Sanmao accidentally threw a grenade into the ranks. With a deafening explosion, the platoon leader's face turned black. The Japanese bombed Wanping, and the situation in North China became severe. In combat, the brave Sanmao made many jokes, and in the end, he joined a suicide squad and eliminated the Japanese soldiers. Chiang Kai-shek visited the front line to comfort the soldiers and took a liking to Sanmao. A transfer order came from the sky, and Sanmao was assigned to the division headquarters as a messenger. The newly promoted Sanmao ended up doing mostly nanny work. The division commander committed suicide, and Sanmao wailed in grief, crying for the commander and for himself.
Zhang Leping is an outstanding Chinese cartoonist who created a vast number of cartoon works in his lifetime. From the cartoon "One Pig Carrying Five Thousand Yuan," drawn in his hometown in the 1920s, to "Cat Feeding Mouse," published in the 1990s, his works have always kept pace with the pulse of the times. His entire body of work reflects, from one perspective, the historical changes of modern society and expresses the thoughts and emotions of the people during a certain period, earning him great success. People call him the "People's Painter." As a master cartoonist, Zhang Leping's works have long been beloved by readers. At the same time, he is also a painter with high proficiency in many artistic forms, including New Year pictures, sketches, pencil drawings, watercolors, paper-cutting, and traditional Chinese painting, all of which have reached a high level. The "Sanmao" character he created has become a household name in art. The story of Sanmao resonates with all good-hearted people. Zhang Leping is hailed as the "Father of Sanmao" and "Grandpa Sanmao." Zhang Leping and Sanmao live in the hearts of several generations of Chinese people. To ensure the complete legacy of Mr. Zhang Leping's art for future generations, China will publish the "Zhang Leping Art Collection," a 24-volume series. This 1946 work, Sanmao Joins the Army, is one of them, originally serialized from May 12 to October 4, 1946, in the Shanghai Daily. This book is based on the 1947 standalone edition and includes 6 original drafts that were not included at the time, making it the most complete version available. Sanmao Joins the Army tells the story of Sanmao during the War of Resistance Against Japan, showcasing a clever and brave Sanmao while deeply exposing the cruelty of war. Sanmao Joins the Army and Sanmao's Adventures are two of Zhang Leping's groundbreaking works. They have influenced generations of readers in China and are now included in the Modern World Series of Famous Comic Book Classics for readers to treasure forever.