The Magic Horse of Han Gan

Author: Chen Jiang Hong; translated from French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick

Illustrator: Chen Jiang Hong 

Peach's Picks Rating:


Year of publication: 2006

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books

ISBN: 1-59270-063-2

Author website: No author website, but websites are available offering information about Chen Jiang Hong: http://www.literaturfestival.com/participants/authors/2005/chen-jianghong and  http://www.artnet.com/artists/chen%20jiang-hong/

Illustrator website: See information in “Author website” entry

Media used for illustrations: Paint on silk in the style of Han Gan

Annotation: The Chinese painter Han Gan is known for realistic paintings of horses. This is the legend of a horse he painted that springs to life galloping out of a painting into war.

Personal reaction to the book: This is a beautifully illustrated book that reads aloud well to a group. The illustrations are large, dynamic and clear, allowing a group of students to easily view the book during a read-aloud. The illustrations provide great detail allowing, an individual reader to pore over them, discovering nuances and emotions in the illustrator’s work. The story is slightly confusing because it begins with biographical information about Han Gan’s life, then flows into the legend of the horse. I appreciated the end note explaining that Han Gan really existed, but the story of the horse is a legend. The illustrations complement the text and offer the reader an atmosphere of Chinese culture, but do not extend the story. I was particularly impressed with the dynamism of the illustrations. For example, the horse is drawn as a physically powerful creature. That power is characterize through his muscular structure as well as portraying him as constantly moving and straining forward. The primary focus of each page faces right inviting the reader to turn the page. I noticed the book has page numbers which is relatively unusual for a picturebook. I recommend this book for use with students in grades 4 and up.

General curricular connections:

• Art
• Language arts / legends

At the conclusion of the book the horse returns to a painting. It is no longer straining with power and muscular energy; rather he is shown as part of a herd. He is dripping with the blood of battle. This reminded me of the symbolism found in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde where Dorian Gray’s portrait reflects his life. Perhaps the book could be used with secondary students in conjunction with studying The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Awards received: No awards given to this book. However, it received starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus and School Library Journal. It was also a Junior Library Guild selection.


Note: This book is a translation of Cheval magique de Han Gan published by l’école des loisirs in 2004 

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://www.enchantedlionbooks.com/node/42

Personification: Pages 30-31 where the horse is overcome by sadness and cries. The illustration shows the horse crying and the text states, “Sadness overcame the horse. He looked around at the defeated and the dead and at the wounded and dying horses, and suddenly he began to cry.”

Sophisticated language: Page 9, “Intrigued, Wang Wei drew up behind Han Gan and looked thoughtfully at his drawing.”

Symbolism through illustrations: Arrows carried and used by the warrior showing that he is a powerful and fierce warrior, a power to be reckoned with. The great warrior’s hat is red with upswept side peaks reminiscent of devil horns.

Symbolism through text and illustrations Pages 32-33 where the illustrations and the text tell of the horse throwing the powerful warrior from his back indicating the horse will no longer battle.

Repetition: Horses are found on nearly every page. Paint brushes and painting tools are found on nearly every page where Han Gan is included.