Water Margin (Upper, Middle, and Lower)

Author: (Ming) Luo Guanzhong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This book is also known as "Water Margin" or "Loyal and Righteous Water Margin." Written by Ming Shi Nai'an. Some also believe it was written by Luo Guanzhong or co-authored by Shi and Luo. Historical records provide little information about Shi Nai'an's life, and there are many differing accounts. The "Shi Nai'an Tombstone" states that he was originally from Suzhou but later moved to Huai'an. He was a scholar during the Yuan Dynasty's Zishun era and died in the early Ming Hongwu era at the age of 75. Many have raised objections to this. "Water Margin" was compiled and refined based on "The Remnants of the Great Song Xuanhe Era" and related storytelling traditions and folk tales about the Water Margin. The main stories and character prototypes in the book are grounded in historical facts. During the Song Xuanhe era, Song Jiang led 36 men to roam freely across Qi and Wei, with tens of thousands of imperial troops unable to resist him. The entire story is set in the Northern Song Xuanhe era, a time of political darkness, treachery and strife in official circles, rulers oppressing the people, and lower classes suffering and struggling to survive. This led to uprisings across all social strata. Figures like Song Jiang, Lin Chong, and Wu Song rebelled, raised the banner of "carrying out the will of heaven to eliminate injustice and restore order," and gained widespread support from the lower classes, establishing their base of rebellion on Mount Liang. The court repeatedly failed to suppress the rebels and thus adopted a policy of offering amnesty. The rebels proposed the slogan of opposing corrupt officials but not the emperor and accepted the court's amnesty. The story is full of twists and turns, vivid language, and distinct character portrayals, achieving unprecedented artistic heights in the Ming Dynasty. The 108 heroes, including Song Jiang, Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, and Li Kui, have become household names. The heroic spirit of avenging injustice, helping the poor, and acting with righteousness they embody has deeply resonated with people, becoming role models in their hearts. These characters have greatly influenced novels and dramas since the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the stories in the book have been drawn upon by various art forms. During its process, the book has many versions, mainly including:
- The 100-chapter version, titled "Loyal and Righteous Water Margin."
- The Ming Jiajing Guo Xun edition, which is one of the earliest surviving printed versions.
- The 120-chapter version, titled "Complete Water Margin," which adds the stories of fighting Tian Hu and Wang Qing to the 100-chapter version.
- The Ming Yuan Tian edition, and the revised version by Yang Dingjian published by Yu Yu Tang during the Ming Chongzhen era.