Read Water Margin

Author: Fu Guangming, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The story of Water Margin itself evolved from the deeds of the real historical figure Song Jiang during the Song Dynasty. However, opinions on how to evaluate Song Jiang's life have always been divided, with the main focus being on his acceptance of the imperial recruitment. Was he a revolutionary-minded leader, a "brave and fierce rogue," who "widely practiced loyalty and eradicated evil," or an opportunistic figure who used the banner of righteousness to betray Liangshan and align with the court? Mr. Zhang Jun's lecture serves as a record for future reference. From any perspective, Water Margin is a book about men, with woefully few female characters. The most memorable ones fall into three categories: the three heroines of Liangshan—Nuqiang Hushi, Sun Erniang, and Gu Dapo; the four "harlots"—Pan Jinlian, Pan Qiaoyun, Yan Po Xi, and the wife of Lu Junyi, Jia Shi; and the virtuous Lin Nüzi. It is evident from these characters that the author's feudal patriarchal perspective shaped their portrayals and his view of women. Why do Chinese ancient novels always involve the question of the author? Who was the author of Water Margin? What is the state of its various versions? Mr. Liu Shide's explanation is concise, clear, and to the point. He particularly emphasized the distinction between folk tales passed down orally and literary creations, highlighting the vast difference in artistic prowess between a great writer, a master of language and literature, and an ordinary recorder of a story. Therefore, it must be affirmed that the author of Water Margin, Shi Nai'an, was a great and creative writer. In the history of world literature, when it comes to long novels, all great works of first-class caliber are individual creations; "accumulative" works cannot become great, first-class works.
The ten lectures in the book each have their own focus and, covering topics such as the author and versions of Water Margin, the mystery of its creation, the character and merits/shortcomings of Song Jiang, the analysis of characters who were "forced onto Liangshan," the female characters in Water Margin, character portrayal as seen through Lin Chong, the relationship between "Shuihu" and "jianghu," Water Margin and Shuihu opera, the ideological tendencies of Water Margin, and a re-evaluation of Water Margin based on the fate of the "Birthday Tribute."
The story of Water Margin itself evolved from the deeds of the real historical figure Song Jiang during the Song Dynasty. However, opinions on how to evaluate Song Jiang's life have always been divided, with the main focus being on his acceptance of the imperial recruitment. Was he a revolutionary-minded leader, a "brave and fierce rogue," who "widely practiced loyalty and eradicated evil," or an opportunistic figure who used the banner of righteousness to betray Liangshan and align with the court? Mr. Zhang Jun's lecture serves as a record for future reference. From any perspective, Water Margin is a book about men, with woefully few female characters. The most memorable ones fall into three categories: the three heroines of Liangshan—Nuqiang Hushi, Sun Erniang, and Gu Dapo; the four "harlots"—Pan Jinlian, Pan Qiaoyun, Yan Po Xi, and the wife of Lu Junyi, Jia Shi; and the virtuous Lin Nüzi. It is evident from these characters that the author's feudal patriarchal perspective shaped their portrayals and his view of women.
As for the literary charm of Water Margin, it needs no elaboration. In the preface to the Ming Dynasty Rong Yu Tang edition of Water Margin, it is said in the general comment for the third chapter, "The words of Water Margin are miraculous and unparalleled in the ages, all in the same yet different. For example, Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, Wu Song, Ruan Xiaojie, Shi Xiu, Hu Yanzhuo, Liu Tang, and the others are all impetuous, and their portrayals are each distinct, each vivid, each unique, each with its own identity, without the slightest overlap or confusion. Reading it, one can easily distinguish them without seeing their names—the mere facts reveal who they are."
The characters in Water Margin are incredibly rich, with 108 of them being distinct in personality. Take the critique by Jin Shengtan in the 28th chapter of the Guanhua Tang edition of Water Margin as an example: "Wu Song is a peerless being, possessing the breadth of Lu Da, the venom of Lin Chong, the integrity of Yang Zhi, the kindness of Chai Jin, the swiftness of Ruan Qi, the sincerity of Li Kui, the cleverness of Wu Yong, the elegance of Huahong, the grandeur of Lu Junyi, and the vigilance of Shi Xiu."
Mr. Wang Xue Tai is an expert in "marginal culture," and his research has been widely recognized by academia. Recently, he has proposed to "detoxify" Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He believes that Water Margin is an encyclopedia of the "jianghu," and it is through the stories of Water Margin that "jianghu" artists present the life of the "jianghu" to readers and listeners, allowing later generations to discover the existence of a new meaning of the "jianghu" in the Song Dynasty. The stories of "Shuihu" also show readers the struggles, ideals, successes, and failures of the people of the "jianghu" in the Song Dynasty. Therefore, when studying Water Margin, the focus should be on the "jianghu"—without the emergence of "jianghu" wanderers, there would be no stories of "Shuihu." Moreover, on the "jianghu" wanderers, there are too many harmful elements of traditional culture and thought, which is why Lu Xun said, "China still has Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin circulating, but this is because society still has a spirit of the Three Kingdoms and Shuihu."
An ancient saying goes, "Without reading Water Margin, one does not know the wonders of the world!" Reading this book will absolutely allow readers to enjoy a thrilling journey through the world of Water Margin, as if they were witnessing the events firsthand.