At the end of the Later Han dynasty, Chinese peasants rose up in the Yellow Turban Revolt. The Revolt was suppressed but the survivors occupied the báibōgŭ (白波谷) on the xīhé (西河) running southeast of fénchéngxiàn (汾城県) in shānxīshĕng (山西省) and looted the neighborhood. They were called 'the robbers of báibō (白波)' probably after the name of their base. These events were well-known to the Japanese from ancient times and traditionally since then in Japan, robbers have sometimes been known as 'Halcuha' (in Jion-doku style pronunciation) or 'Shiranami' (in Kun-doku style pronunciation).
The purpose of this article is to discuss the following three problems.
(1) When did Ilakuha' and 'Siranatni' begin to be used to mean a poetic euphemism of robbers?
(2) Where did this usage come into existence, in China or in Japan?
(3) Who in Japan used 'Hakuha' in Jion-doku style pronunciation and who used 'Shiranami' in Kun-doku style pronunciation?