Chinese Name: Hu Sanniang 

Japanese Name: Ichijōsei Kosanjō

Rank: 59th of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Ten Feet of Green

Hu Sanniang was a skilled equestrian who fought with two swords and was capable of fighting a dozen men at a time. She was the daughter of Squire Hu, master of the Hu Family Manor. She was engaged to Zhu Biao, the son of Zhu Chaofeng, master of the Zhu Family Manor. 

Shi Qian (plate 58) was traveling with Yang Xiong (plate 45) and Shi Xiu (plate 44) on their way to request admission to the bandit legions of Liangshan Marsh. Along the way, Shi Qian stole a rooster from an inn owned by the Zhu Family. He set fire to the inn while trying to escape but was caught nonetheless. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu’s attempts to get him released were unsuccessful so they appealed for help from Song Jiang (plate 107) and the Liangshan bandits. Song Jiang agreed and led a troop of bandits to attack the Zhu manor and free their comrade. 

Hu Sanniang rode out with the Zhu family to defend against Liangshan’s soldiers. She first battled Wang Ying (plate 25), who thought she could easily be defeated and taken back to the stronghold as his prize. After ten bouts he realized he could not defeat her and tried to retreat. Hu Sanniang chased him down and pulled him from his horse, allowing her comrades to take him prisoner (Wang Ying was later rescued by the Liangshan bandits). 

As the battle waged on, Hu Sanniang set her sights on Song Jiang. Knowing he was no match for her, he retreated, but she continued to pursue him. In the midst of the chase, Lin Chong (plate 19) suddenly appeared with ten men behind him and intercepted her. Lin Chong and Hu Sanniang fought for ten bouts, but she was finally overcome and pulled from her horse.

*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.*

Hu Sanniang was taken to the Liangshan stronghold and placed under the watch of Song Jiang’s father. After some time there, Song Jiang convinced her to join Liangshan and even persuaded her to marry Wang Ying (fulfilling Song Jiang’s promise to find him a wife (see plate 25 for story details)).

Hu Sanniang is depicted here deflecting an onslaught of arrows while fighting against Liangshan’s outlaws before being captured.  

Kuniyoshi recreation