Jin Shengtan's Annotations on Water Margin (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Shi Nai'an
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-09-02
Features: This book is based on the theme of the Song Jiang Uprising and successfully portrays many vividly individualized characters, such as Song Jiang, who is always ready to rescue people in danger, Wu Song, who dares to fight against evil forces, Lu Zhishen, who hates evil with a passion, Li Kui, who is clear about right and wrong, and Wu Yong, who is clever and resourceful. Water Margin is a long heroic legend and one of the representative works of ancient Chinese long novels, created based on the story of the Song Jiang Uprising. The Song Jiang Uprising 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. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, the story of the Song Jiang Uprising has been passed down in the, with The Drunken Scholar's Chat recording some independent legends about the Water Margin heroes, and Remnants of the Great Song in the Xuanhe Era linking many Water Margin stories together, which is very close to a long novel. In the Yuan Dynasty, numerous Water Margin plays emerged, with a group of heroes from Mount Liang appearing on stage. Water Margin is a product of the long-term folk transmission of the Song Jiang Uprising story, absorbing the nourishment of folk literature. Water Margin is one of the most beloved classical long vernacular novels in China. It was created during the Ming Dynasty, based on the stories, tales, and plays about Water Margin that had existed since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and was processed, organized, and created by the author. The entire book is primarily about the peasant uprising led by Song Jiang, 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 at the time, and the brutal reality of "officials forcing the people to rebel," successfully shaping a group of heroic characters such as Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, Wu Song, Lin Chong, and Ruan Xiaoqi. The storylines of the novel 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 the concepts of "loyalty and righteousness" and "carrying out the will of heaven," and reflects severe ideological limitations.