Water Margin - World Young Readers' Literature Classics Collection

Author: Shi Nai'an
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This book is one of the "World Youth Literature Classics Collection," organized around the 70-capter edition of "Water Margin" cut by Jin Shengtan in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. It selects classic characters and stories from "Water Margin," showcasing the essence of the entire work. The first 70 chapters of "Water Margin," from the prologue "Zhang Tianshi praying to ward off plague, Hong Taiji mistakenly releasing demons" to "The Stone Tablet of Loyalty and Righteousness receives the celestial chart, Heroes of Liangshan arrange their seats," sees one hundred and eight heroes from all walks of life make their debut, performing a series of stories. The tense battles and dramatic plots are utterly captivating. One hundred and eight characters with striking nicknames, one hundred and eight vivid and unique personalities, leave one in awe. Classics like "Lu Tixia boxing against Zhen Guanxi," "Lin Jiaotou facing the snowstorm at the Temple of the Mountain God," "Wusong drunkenly fighting Jiang Menshen," and "Three Attacks on Zhu's Village by Liangshan" move one's heart and stir one's blood. Savoring the heroes of "Water Margin" and savoring the stories of chivalry brings a sense of reading pleasure, like fine wine—richer with each sip. To make it easier for readers to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese novels, this book selects the most brilliant characters and stories from the first 70 chapters of "Water Margin," narrating them in modern vernacular while preserving the original work. This helps young readers understand the appeal of "Water Margin" through these famous characters and stories, achieving the effect of seeing the whole through a part. "Water Margin" is a long heroic romance and one of the representative works of ancient Chinese long novels, created based on the story of Song Jiang's uprising. The uprising of Song Jiang occurred during the reign of Emperor Huizong in the Northern Song Dynasty, and is recorded in the "Annals of Emperor Huizong," "Biography of Hou Meng," and "Biography of Zhang Shuni" in the "History of the Song Dynasty." From the Southern Song Dynasty onwards, the story of Song Jiang's uprising spread in the folk, with "Record of Drunken Elder" documenting some independent legends about the heroes of "Water Margin," and "Remnants of the Great Song in the Xuanhe Era" linking many "Water Margin" stories together, resembling a long novel. During the Yuan Dynasty, numerous "Water Margin" plays emerged, with a batch of Liangshan heroes appearing as stage characters. "Water Margin" is a product of the long-standing folk tradition of the story of Song Jiang's uprising, nourished by folk literature. "Water Margin" is one of the most beloved classical long vernacular novels in China. It was created in the Ming Dynasty, based on the stories, tales, and plays about "Water Margin" since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and was processed, organized, and created by the author. The entire work takes the peasant uprising led by Song Jiang as its main theme, artistically recreating the tragic and heroic struggle of the ancient Chinese people against oppression. The work fully exposes the corruption and cruelty of the feudal ruling class, reveals the sharp social contradictions of the time and the brutal reality of "officials forcing the people to rebel," and successfully portrays a group of heroic characters like Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, Wusong, Lin Chong, and Ruan Xiaojiu. The storylines are intricate, the language is vivid, and the characters' personalities are distinct, demonstrating a high level of artistic achievement. However, the work praises and idealizes Song Jiang, promotes "loyalty and righteousness" and "carrying out the will of heaven," and shows severe ideological limitations. This book, organized around the 70-capter edition of "Water Margin" cut by Jin Shengtan in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, selects classic characters and stories from "Water Margin," showcasing the essence of the entire work. The first 70 chapters of "Water Margin," from the prologue "Zhang Tianshi praying to ward off plague, Hong Taiji mistakenly releasing demons" to "The Stone Tablet of Loyalty and Righteousness receives the celestial chart, Heroes of Liangshan arrange their seats," sees one hundred and eight heroes from all walks of life make their debut, performing a series of stories. The tense battles and dramatic plots are utterly captivating. One hundred and eight characters with striking nicknames, one hundred and eight vivid and unique personalities, leave one in awe. Classics like "Lu Tixia boxing against Zhen Guanxi," "Lin Jiaotou facing the snowstorm at the Temple of the Mountain God," "Wusong drunkenly fighting Jiang Menshen," and "Three Attacks on Zhu's Village by Liangshan" move one's heart and stir one's blood. Savoring the heroes of "Water Margin" and savoring the stories of chivalry brings a sense of reading pleasure, like fine wine—richer with each sip.