Water Margin
294171
225818563
2008-07-15T15:28:28Z
EVula
683453
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Time for action|Time for action]] ([[User talk:Time for action|talk]]) to last version by Chensiyuan
{{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}}
'''''Water Margin''''' or '''''Outlaws of the Marsh''''' or '''''All Men Are Brothers''''' or '''''The Marshes of Mount Liang''''' ({{zh-tsp|t=水滸傳|s=水浒传|p=Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn}}) is one of the [[Four Great Classical Novels]] of [[Chinese literature]]. Attributed to [[Shi Naian]], whom some believe to be [[Luo Guanzhong]], the novel details the trials and tribulations of [[108 (number)|108]] outlaws during the mid [[Song Dynasty]].
{{ChineseText}}
== Historical context and development ==
[[Image:Shuihu.png|thumb|200px|An illustration of the novel]]
''Water Margin'' is vaguely based upon the historical bandit [[Song Jiang]] and his 107 companions. The group was active in the Huai River region and eventually surrendered to government troops in 1121. They are recorded in the ''[[Twenty-Four Histories#Books of the Twenty-Four Histories|Song Shi]]'' ({{Zh-c|[[:zh:宋史|宋史]]}} - "History of the Song Dynasty) (1345), the name of Song Jiang appearing in the chapter of [[Emperor Huizong of Song|Emperor Huizong]], the activities of the gang in the chapter for ''Zhang Shuye'' ({{Zh-c|[[:zh:張叔夜|張叔夜]]}}). Folk stories about Song Jiang circulated during the [[Southern Song Dynasty|Southern Song]]. The first text to name Song Jiang's thirty-six companions was the 13th century ''Guixin Zashi'' ({{Zh-c|癸辛雜識}} - "Miscellaneous Observations from the Year Guixin") by ''Zhou Mi'' ({{Zh-c|[[:zh:周密|周密]]}}) (1232 - 1298). Among the thirty-six are [[Lu Junyi]], [[Guan Sheng]], [[Ruan Xiaoer]], [[Ruan Xiaowu]], [[Ruan Xiaoqi]], [[Liu Tang]], [[Hua Rong]] and [[Wu Yong]]. Some of the characters to later become associated with Song Jiang also appeared around this time. They include [[Sun Li]], [[Yang Zhi]], [[Lin Chong]], [[Lu Zhishen]] and [[Wu Song]].
A direct precursor of ''Water Margin'' was the ''Da Song Xuanhe Yishi'' ({{Zh-c|大宋宣和遺事}} - "Old incidents in Xuanhe period of the great Song Dynasty"), which appeared around the mid-13th century. The text was basically a written version of storytellers' tales, based loosely on historical events. It is divided into ten chapters, roughly covering the history of the [[Song Dynasty]] from the early 11th century to the establishment of the Southern Song regime in 1127. The fourth chapter covers the adventures of Song Jiang and his 36 companions, and their eventual defeat by [[Zhang Shuye]] ({{Zh-c|張叔夜}}). Some of the more well-known stories and characters of the ''Water Margin'' are clearly visible, including "Yang Zhi selling his sword", "Stealing the birthday present", "Song Jiang kills his slave girl", "Fighting [[Fang La]]" etc. It places Song Jiang and his bandits in the [[Taihang Mountains]], and his band ran the gamut from fishermen to ex imperial drill instructors to inn-keepers etc.
Stories about the bandits of Mount Liang became popular as subject for [[Yuan Dynasty]] drama. During this time the material on which the ''Water Margin'' was based evolved into what it is today. Song Jiang's bandits were expanded to number one hundred and eight, and though they came from different backgrounds, all eventually come to occupy [[Mount Liang]]. There is a theory that ''Water Margin'' became popular during the Yuan Dynasty due to resentment toward the Mongol rulers. Song Jiang's rebellion was safe to promote because it criticized the Song Dynasty on the surface, but it was also a call to oppose all corrupt governments.
== Authorship and early editions ==
[[Image:Shuihu5.PNG|thumb|170px|]]
There is considerable disagreement as to the author of ''Water Margin''. Most consider the first seventy chapters to have been written by [[Shi Nai'an]], while the last thirty chapters were written by [[Luo Guanzhong]], also the author of ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]''. Luo may have been the disciple of Shi Nai'an. It has also been suggested that Shi Nai'an did not exist but was merely a pseudonym for Luo Guanzhong himself. Clues from the text itself strongly suggest that the author was a native of [[Zhejiang]] province (as both Luo and Shi were) who had little knowledge of northern China. At a 2006 conference, the leading scholars of the work agreed that Shi and Luo were probably the same person, because the name Shi Nai'an written backwards spells "an nai shi", meaning "It is I again."{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
It is not clear how close the Luo's edition was to those that are known today. The earliest extant edition of ''Water Margin'' is a 100-chapter printed text dating from the mid-16th century. <!-- This is generally regarded as Shi Nai'an's original. --> Another edition, with 120 chapters by Yang Dingjian ({{Zh-c|楊定見}}), has been preserved from the [[Wanli Emperor|Wanli]] era (1573–1620). Yet other editions were published since this era to the early [[Qing Dynasty]], including a 70-chapter edition by [[Jin Shengtan]] (1608-1661).
== Outline of chapters ==
The opening episode is the release of the 108 spirits. The next chapter describes the rise of [[Gao Qiu]], the main antagonist of the 108. Then follow the stories of different outlaws. At first the story may seem like separate stories, which, in a sense, they were. The connections were very vague between characters. But the story eventually comes together by Chapter 40 or so, during the exile and rescue of Song Jiang, who becomes the head of 108 outlaws. Once the main characters gather on the Mount Liang on the marsh, the story goes on with the conflicts with the Song dynasty, while Song Jiang keeps showing his loyalty to the emperor. After winning battles against the imperial forces, the outlaws are offered amnesty and invited by the emperor to become an official army, which Song Jiang willingly accepts. Gao Qiu, not being happy with them, sends them out to fight against the enemies of the dynasty, and finally we will see the tragic ending.
The following outline of chapters is based on a 100-chapter edition. Yang's 120-chapter edition includes other campaigns of the outlaws on behalf of Song dynasty, while Jing's 70-chapter edition omits the chapters on the outlaws' acceptance of amnesty and following campaigns.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Chapter
! Event
|-
| '''1'''
| Marshal Hong Releases the 108 Spirits.
|-
| '''2'''
| The rise of [[Gao Qiu]].
|-
| '''2–3'''
| The story of [[Shi Jin]].
|-
| '''3–7'''
| The story of [[Lu Zhishen]].
|-
| '''7–12'''
| The story of [[Lin Chong]].
|-
| '''12–13'''
| The story of [[Yang Zhi]].
|-
| '''13–20'''
| The robbing of the birthday gifts led by [[Chao Gai]] and the "original 7".
|-
| '''20–22'''
|The story of [[Song Jiang]].
|-
| '''23–32'''
| The story of [[Wu Song]].
|-
| '''32–35'''
| The story of [[Hua Rong]].
|-
| '''36–43'''
| The exile and rescue of Song Jiang.
|-
| '''44–47'''
| The story of [[Shi Xiu]] and [[Yang Xiong (novel character)|Yang Xiong]].
|-
| '''47–50'''
| The three assaults on the Zhu Family Village.
|-
| '''51–52'''
| The story of [[Lei Heng]] and [[Zhu Tong]].
|-
| '''53–55'''
| The outlaws attack Gaotangzhou; the search for [[Gongsun Sheng]].
|-
| '''55–57'''
| The first imperial assault on Liangshan Marsh (led by [[Huyuan Zhuo]]).
|-
| '''57–59'''
| The outlaws attack [[Qingzhou]].
|-
| '''59–60'''
| The outlaws attack Mount Mangdang.
|-
| '''60'''
| The first assault on the Zeng Family Village; the death of Chao Gai.
|-
| '''60–67'''
|The story of [[Lu Junyi]]; the outlaws attack Damingfu; the second imperial assault on Liangshan Marsh (led by [[Guan Sheng]]).
|-
| '''67'''
| The third imperial assault on Liangshan Marsh (led by [[Shan Ting-gui]] and [[Wei Ding-guo]]).
|-
| '''68'''
| The second assault on the Zeng Family Village.
|-
| '''69–70'''
| The outlaws attack Dongpingfu and Dongchangfu.
|-
| '''71–74'''
| The 108 heroes are fully assembled; the funny and lethal antics of [[Li Kui]].
|-
| '''75–78'''
| The Emperor offers [[amnesty]] the first time; the fourth imperial assault on Liangshan Marsh.
|-
| '''78–80'''
| The fifth imperial assault on Liangshan Marsh (led by Gao Qiu).
|-
| '''81–82'''
| The outlaws are granted complete amnesty.
|-
| '''83–89'''
| The outlaws attack the Liao Tatars.
|-
| '''90–99'''
| The outlaws attack the southern rebels ([[Fang La]]).
|-
| '''100'''
| The tragic dissolution of the outlaws of the Marsh.
|}
The extended version adds the Liangshan Marsh bandits' expeditions against other noted rebel leaders, [[Tian Hu]] in [[Hebei]] and [[Wang Qing]] in [[Szechuan]], prior to the campaign against Fang La.
==Japan==
[[Image:Suikoden.jpg|[[Yang Lin|Kinhyōshi yōrin]] (Yang Lin), hero of the Suikoden. From [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]'s series of woodblock prints illustrating the 108 Suikoden.|thumb|upright]]
Japanese translations of the Water Margin date to at least 1757, when the first volume of an early ''Suikoden'' (''Water Margin'' rendered in Japanese) was printed.<ref>Shirane and Brandon, ''Early Modern Japanese Literature'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=RA1-PA564&sig=jPfGJp3zz6u8AXnyBUnpdzUrblA p564].</ref> Other early translations include [[Takebe Ayakari]]'s 1773 ''Japanese Water Margin'' (''Honcho suikoden''),<ref>Shirane and Brandon. ''Early Modern Japanese Literature'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=RA1-PA555&sig=BpZ2mIBTjKx7Nv2OzfZsD5tWC1s p555] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=RA1-PA886&sig=XFSUHmj9-zPPtQSIZBgLSivmqp8 886].</ref> the 1783 ''Women's Water Margin'' (''Onna suikoden''),<ref>Shirane and Brandon. ''Early Modern Japanese Literature'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=PA13&sig=ETJAI92VUBIRdqGOjXru5kAZbvw p13].</ref> and [[Santō Kyōden]]'s 1801 ''Chushingura Water Margin'' (''Chushingura suikoden'').<ref>Shirane and
Brandon. ''Early Modern Japanese Literature'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=RA1-PA656&sig=OLk5L7Rt3vq4e2erQKy7K7NrMRM p656] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=RJ4nUp-iOswC&pg=RA1-PA886&sig=XFSUHmj9-zPPtQSIZBgLSivmqp8 886]</ref>
In 1805, [[Takizawa Bakin]] released a Japanese translation of the ''Water Margin'' illustrated by [[Hokusai Katsushika]].<ref name=artelino/> The book, called the ''New Illustrated Edition of the Suikoden'' (''Shinpen Suikogaden''), was a huge success in urban Edo and spurred a Japanese "Suikoden" craze.<ref name=artelino/> In 1827, publisher [[Kagaya Kichibei]] commissioned [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] to produce a series of woodblock prints illustrating the 108 heroes of the Water Margin.<ref name=artelino/> The 1827-1830 series, called 108 Heroes of the Water Margin or ''Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori'', catapulted Kuniyoshi to fame.<ref name=artelino/><ref name=tattoo/> It also brought about a craze for multicolored pictoral tattoos that covered the entire body from neck to mid-thigh.<ref name=tattoo>Guth, Christine. ''Longfellow's Tattoos: Tourism, Collecting, and Japan''. University of Washington
Press (2004), [http://books.google.com/books?id=nkLs55k2vqMC&pg=PA147&sig=LxaZmNZEzluaeJBQ3QLt510KBWY p147]. ISBN 0295984015.</ref> Following the great commercial success of the Kuniyoshi series, other [[ukiyo-e]] artists were commissioned to produce prints of the Water Margin heroes, which began to be shown as Japanese heroes rather than the original Chinese personages.<ref name=artelino/> Among these later series was [[Yoshitoshi]]'s 1866-1867 series of 50 designs in Chuban size, which are darker than Kuniyoshi's and feature strange ghosts and monsters.<ref name=artelino>http://www.artelino.com/articles/heroes_suikoden.asp, citing Inge Klompmakers, "Of brigands and bravery - Kuniyoshi's heroes of the Suikoden", Hotei Publishing, Leiden, Breestraat 113, 2311 CL Leiden, The Netherlands, 1998, ISBN 90-74822-08-8.</ref>
== Translations ==
''Water Margin'' has been translated into many languages. One of the first English translations was made by [[Pearl S. Buck]]. Titled ''All Men are Brothers'' and published in 1933, the book was well-received by the American public. However, it was also heavily criticized for its many errors and inaccuracies, including many mispronunciations. An often cited example in this edition was her mistranslation of [[Lu Zhishen]]'s nickname "Flowery Monk" into "Priest Hwa".
Of the later editions, Chinese-naturalized Jewish-American scholar [[Sidney Shapiro]]'s ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' (1980) is considered one of the best. However, due to its being published during the [[Cultural Revolution]], this edition received little attention at the time. Shapiro's translation is currently published by the Beijing Foreign Language Press, as a four-volume set.
== Modern transformations ==
===Film and television===
[[Image:Shuihu7.PNG|thumb|200px]]
*''The Water Margin'' ([[Japanese writing system|Japanese]]: 水滸伝) was a successful [[Japanese television programs|Japanese television]] adaptation of the story, produced by [[Nippon Television]] and starring [[Atsuo Nakamura]] and [[Go Kato]] in the main roles. The show was filmed in 1973 on location in mainland China, as the first jointly co-produced show with a non-Communist country since 1949. The show was very successful and broadcast on TV in many other countries.
*Some locations and characters were written into [[Mitsuteru Yokoyama]]'s [[anime]] ''[[Giant Robo: The Animation]]'' as Yokoyama had previously published a [[manga]] version of the story of the outlaws of Mt. Liang.
*A 1980s TV serial was also produced in Hong Kong by the studio TVB.
*A 43 episode TV serial ({{Zh-c|水滸全傳}}) produced in Mainland China was released in 1997.
*A [[Water Margin (film)|1972 movie of the same name]] was produced by the [[Shaw Brothers]] (Singapore).<ref>[http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/watermargin.htm Kung Fu Cinema]</ref><ref>[http://www.dragonsdenuk.com/reviews/water_margin.htm Dragon's Den UK]</ref>
*A Hong Kong movie starring [[Tony Leung]] was made in the mid-1990s and it centered around Lin Chong, Lu Zhishen and Gao Qiu.
===Literature===
*[[Qing Dynasty]] author Qian Cai intertwined the lives of [[Yue Fei]] and the bandits Lin Chong and Lu Junyi in ''[[Media about Yue Fei#The Story of Yue Fei|The Story of Yue Fei]]'' by stating the latter were previous students of the general's military arts tutor, [[Zhou Tong (archer)|Zhou Tong]].<ref>Qian, Cai. ''General Yue Fei''. Trans. Honorable Sir T.L. Yang. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd.,1995 (ISBN 978-962-04-1279-0), page 39</ref> However, literary critic C.T. Hsia comments the connection was only a creation of the author.<ref>Hsia, C.T. ''C. T. Hsia on Chinese Literature''. Columbia University Press, 2004 (ISBN 0231129904), pg. 149</ref> The [[Republic of China|republican era]] folktale “[[Media about Zhou Tong#How Wu Song becomes Zhou's student|Swordplay Under the Moon]]”, by Wang Shaotang, further intertwines Yue Fei's history with the bandits by adding [[Wu Song]] to the list of Zhou's former students.<ref>Børdahl, Vibeke. ''Four Masters Of Chinese Storytelling: Full-length Repertoires Of Yangzhou Storytelling On Video''. Nordic Institute of Asian Studies; Bilingual edition, 2004 (ISBN 8-7911-1464-0), pg. 166</ref> The tale takes place during Wu's mission to Kaifeng, prior to the murder of his brother. Zhou tutors Wu in the "rolling dragon" style of swordplay during his one month stay in the capital city. It also says Zhou is [[sworn brother]]s with the “Flowery Monk” [[Lu Zhishen]] and shares a nickname with the [[executioner]]-turned-bandit [[Cai Fu]].<ref>Hsia: pp. 448-449, footnote #31</ref>
*[[Frank Chin]]'s novel, ''Donald Duk'', contains many references to the ''Water Margin''. [[Song Jiang]] and [[Li Kui (novel character)|Li Kui]] make several appearances in the protagonist's dreams.
*Two characters in the popular Japanese novel series [[Saiunkoku Monogatari]], Shi Seiran and Rou Ensei, have histories vaguely resembling those of [[Chai Jin]] and [[Yan Qing]], and are nicknamed "Small Whirlwind" and "King of the Staff".
*A [[Hong Kong]] comic series was also drawn by the popular Hong Kong comic artist, [[Li Zhiqing]].
===Video games===
*A character named "The Black Whirlwhind" in the RPG ''[[Jade Empire]]'' is inspired by Li Kui.
*The game ''[[Water Margin Online]]'' is adapted from the story of ''Water Margin''.
*The novel inspired the [[Japan]]ese [[console role-playing game]] series ''[[Gensou Suikoden]]'' by [[Konami]]
* A military strategy game by [[Koei]], called ''[[Bandit Kings of Ancient China]]'' is one of the oldest video game adaptations of the novel.
*[[Data East]] released a fighting game which was known under three different titles. ''[[Suiko Enbu]]'' in Japan, ''[[Outlaws of The Lost Dynasty]]'' in the U.S. and ''Dark Legend'' on the American [[Sega Saturn]]. The game's characters are inspired by the ''Water Margin'' story.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite book|others=Yoshikawa Kojiro and Shimizu Shigeru (translators)|title=水滸伝 (Water Margin)|publisher=Iwanami Shoten|date=1998-10-16}}
==Works cited==
* Haruo Shirane and James Brandon. ''Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600-1900''. Columbia University Press (2002). ISBN 0231109903.
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Water Margin}}
*{{jp icon}}{{zh icon}} [http://homepage3.nifty.com/suikosai/dankin_dir/dankin_28.htm Nicknames of the 108 heroes].
*[http://www.poisonpie.com/words/others/somewhat/outlaws/index.html Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary].
===Chinese===
*[http://cls.admin.yzu.edu.tw/shz/index.htm A full text archive].
*[http://gb2.chinabroadcast.cn/1015/2002-9-24/99@96216.htm About the three major editions].
===Japanese===
*[http://www.suikoden.com Stylized illustrations of the 108 outlaws].
{{Water Margin characters}}
[[Category:Water Margin|*]]
[[Category:Chinese classic novels]]
[[da:Fortællinger fra marsk og mose]]
[[de:Die Räuber vom Liang-Schan-Moor]]
[[eo:Ĉe akvorando]]
[[fr:Au bord de l'eau]]
[[ko:수호전]]
[[id:Batas Air]]
[[it:I Briganti]]
[[ms:Hikayat Pinggir Air]]
[[nl:Verhaal van de wateroever]]
[[ja:水滸伝]]
[[ru:Речные заводи]]
[[fi:Shui hu zhuan]]
[[sv:Berättelser från träskmarkerna]]
[[th:108 ผู้กล้าหาญแห่งเขาเหลียงซาน]]
[[vi:Thủy hử]]
[[wa:Å boird des aiwes]]
[[zh:水浒传]]