Zhao Yun
Signed Sukoku Toryuo (1730-1804)
Edo Period, 18th century- 19th century
Color on silk
43.2x109.2 cm
Cat. 266011
© The Field Museum
Zhao Yun is a Chinese historical figure who served as a general in Liu Bei's army during the Three Kingdoms Period (A.D. 220-280). Depicted as a perfect hero in Romance of Three Kingdoms, a Chinese quasi-historical classic popular in Japan, Zhao enjoyed a wide acceptance and was gradually apotheosized in both countries. The painting tells the story of "Zhao Yun rescuing the baby of the Lord at Long Slope Ramp", which is one of the best-known stories about Zhao. It tells how Liu Bei lost his war to Cao Cao and had his baby and wife inundated in the turmoil. It was Zhao Yun who rushed into the chaotic crowd alone and finally found the baby. He tied the baby on his left hand, bravely battled against and killed thousands of surrounding enemies, and fought his way back.
The artist has chosen the most critical moment of the rescue -- the horse's marvelous jump. The novel says when Zhao Yun got the child and tried to run away from an attacking general, his horse suddenly fell into a pit and could not get out. At that very moment, a beam of red light flashed. The horse incredibly leaped into the air and jumped out of the pit. A poem describes this moment: "The red light flashing, the trapped dragon flew off. The warrior's horse broke through the Long Slope Trap."
The horse's distorted body, hooked fore-hooves, flying tail and tightly bent forelegs, wonderfully reveal the tension his body endures during the jump. His left back leg suspended in the air with the right back leg lagging behind suggests that he is straining to reach as high as possible.
The artist painted Zhao Yun as depicted in the novel, "as tall as 8 chi (a Chinese unit of measurement), big eyes and thick eyebrows, wide face and fat cheeks." His anger can be seen from his bulging white eyes with small black pupils. This is a traditional Chinese painting technique to suggest anger, which can also be seen in the horse's eyes. Their fury forms a strong contrast with the sleeping baby in Zhao's left arm who seems to know nothing about the dangerous situation he is in.
The weapon in Zhao's right hand is a powerful sword with the name of "Qing Gang". This sword and the "Yi Tian Sword" form a set owned by Cao Cao, the enemy King. Cao usually carried the "Yi Tian Sword" and had his guard carry the "Qing Gang Sword". Zhao accidentally killed the sword carrier and grabbed the sword. According to the novel, if not for the powerful sword and the magic horse, Zhao might not have been able to make his way out of the siege. The fact that the artist paid attention to the sword (Zhao's usual weapon is a spear) and the horse confirms his awareness of the subject's association with Chinese classical literature.
Sukoku Toryuo is regarded as the best follower of Hanabusa Itcho (1652-1724), a Hanabusa painter and printmaker, and excels at illustrating quasi-historical or legendary tales.
(Commentary by Juan Peng)