Publisher's Note
The picture book Trapped at White Tiger Sanctum is based on two chapters of the famous Chinese classic Outlaws of the Marsh by Shi Nai'an, novelist of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties (mid 14th entury). The events that formed the background of the novel took place in the early part of the 12th century. It was a period of ruthless exploitation and oppression of the peasantry by the rulers of Northern Song, which aggravated the contradictions between the peasant and landlord classes and led to many peasant uprisings. Moreover, the ruling class itself was so corrupt and decadent that many of its erstwhile followers joined the ranks of the peasant rebels. The novel described in detail the formation of the peasant army on Mount Liangshan, its growth in strength up to its final defeat, with the focus on 108 leaders and heroes in this army.
This picture book tells of several episodes concerning Lin Chong, a rebel against the imperial court who became a leader of the Liangshan forces. Lin was formerly an arms instructor in Dongjing (capital of Northern Song). One day when he and his wife went to a temple to burn license, they met Young Master Gao, son of Marshal Gao Qiu Seein that Lin' s wife was so young and pretty, young Gao wanted to make her his wife. So abetted by the dark and evil forces of the day represented by his powerful father, he contrived to have Lin Chong sent into exile on a trumped-up charge.
This picture book is translated from a revised version of the picture book with the same title published by the Shanghai Peoples Fine Arts Publishing House.
About the Artist
Yan Meihua, styled Xue'an, was born in Shanghai in 1927. His parents came from Wuxian, Jiangsu Province. In his youth he learnt Western painting from Yan Wenliang, on whose recommendation he
was admitted to the Meijing Studio where he studied underthe traditional-style painter Wu Hufan.
In 1952 he joined the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House, where he did many fine illustrations for picture storites and sketches of opera characters in traditional style. He received an honorary award at the Second National Prize-awarding Ceremaony for Picture Stories in 1980.
Over the years he has also illustrated a number of books, newspapers and periodicals. His paintings of flowers and of figures historical costumes have been shown at national exhibitions and in Japan, Singapore and the United States. He is a member of the Chinese Artists Association.
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