Water Margin (Illustrated Edition): One of the Four Great Classical Novels of China ((Illustrated Edition))

Author: Luo Guanzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-08-06
Features: Water Margin (also known as The Outlaws of the Marsh or Outlaws of Loyalty and Righteousness), recorded by Gao Ru in The Hundred Rivers Catalogue of Books, with the preface stating, "The original by Shi Nai'an of Qiantang, compiled by Luo Guanzhong." Hu Yinglin in Notes from the Shao Shi Study believed it was written by Shi Nai'an, while Wang Qi in The Continuation of the Examination of Literary Sources and others attributed it to Luo Guanzhong. Both Shi Nai'an and Luo Guanzhong were figures from the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Today, it is generally believed that the authors were either of these two or both, who created this work based on The Remnants of the Xuanhe and related tales and stories. The entire book primarily depicts peasant warfare, shaping the heroic figures of Li Kui, Wu Song, Lin Chong, and Lu Zhishen from Mount Liang. It exposes the cruelty and corruption of the feudal ruling class and reveals the social contradictions of the time. The plot is intricate, the language vivid and distinctive, and the characters' personalities are striking, showcasing high artistic achievement. However, the work praises and idealizes Song Jiang, opposes only corrupt officials, not the emperor, and promotes "loyalty and righteousness," reflecting severe ideological limitations.