Water Margin
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Summary
Editor's review
In literary terms, Water Margin not only has a twisting plot and vivid characters but also reaches a very high level in narrative structure and linguistic art. Its gallery of heroes—Song Jiang's righteousness, Lin Chong's forbearance, Wu Song's valor, Lu Zhishen's forthrightness—has become a set of classic symbols in Chinese culture. At the same time, the novel's revelation of social contradictions and the good and evil in human nature still carries profound contemporary significance.
In the editor's view, this edition balances scholarship and readability; the annotations help readers understand the historical background and ancient usage, making it suitable for those who wish to understand the original work in depth. It is both a fine collectible for literature lovers and an important resource for the study of traditional Chinese culture. Reading Water Margin lets one feel, amid its sweeping story, the stirring of loyalty and righteousness and a reflection on the fate of an era.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in classical Chinese literature and history and culture
- Literature lovers who wish to understand the Water Margin stories and the prototypes of its characters in depth
- Readers seeking profound reflection on society and human nature
- Teachers and students who need a classic edition for study or research
Not a good fit for
- Readers who prefer light, short modern novels
- Beginners completely unfamiliar with ancient language and background
Reading tips
- Start with the preface or introduction to learn about the background of the work and the features of this edition
- Use a character chart or chapter summaries to gradually sort out the complex relationships
- While reading, pay attention to the rhythm and narrative pace of the ancient vernacular
About the publisher
Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前 言Foreword
- 推荐序
- 王教头私走延安府
- 九纹龙大闹史家村
- 鲁提辖拳打镇关西
- 花和尚倒拔垂杨柳
- 林教头误入白虎堂
- 鲁智深大闹野猪林
- 豹子头风雪山神庙
- 青面兽汴京卖宝刀
- 众好汉智取生辰纲
- 梁山泊义士尊晁盖
- 宋公明怒杀阎婆惜
- 景阳冈武松打猛虎
- 武都头斗杀西门庆
- 快活林醉打蒋门神
- 武二郎雪恨鸳鸯楼
- 浔阳江宋江吟反诗
- 众好汉江州劫法场
- 真李逵怒杀假李逵
- 宋公明三打祝家庄
- 钩镰枪巧破连环马
- 晁天王曾头市中箭
- 智多星智取玉麒麟
- 及时雨攻打曾头市
- 梁山泊英雄大排名
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About the author
Shi Nai'an (c. 1296–1370), whose given name was Yanduan and who used the courtesy names Zhaorui and Zi'an, was a writer of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. He was a native of Xinghua, Jiangsu, with ancestral roots in Suzhou. Tradition holds that he once served as magistrate of Qiantang County and later withdrew from office to devote himself to writing. Both his life and his authorship of Water Margin remain disputed among scholars, and reliable public information is limited. Water Margin, attributed to him, is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. Set against the backdrop of Song Jiang's uprising in the late Northern Song, it portrays a vast company of 108 outlaws at Liangshan, distinguished by vivid language and memorable characters, and it has exerted a lasting influence on later fiction, drama and folk culture. His works fall under classical literature and martial-arts fiction, and this site offers a variety of related editions, including unabridged texts, annotated versions with pronunciation guides, and curriculum-oriented reading editions.
