Tale of Water Margin
In the final years of the song dynasty china was in a state of political and social turmoil. Besides frequent foreign invasion and a large number of man made and natural disasters there were also constant pheasant rebellion. In order to transform society and make it more equitable and human 108 heroes joined together in Shan-dong province Liang Shan to oppose the local officials and genitures. Thus began the corsages and moving drama on which the novel water margin is based.
Water margin is title Shui-Hu-Zhuan in Chinese and in English it is called all men are brothers or outlaws of the heart. The story originated and was widely told during the northern Tang dynasty. In the early years of the Yuan dynasty from 1271-1368 A.D., Legend has it that Shi Nai-an compiled and edited this long novel. People say that the story of heroes of the greenwoods who are leading characters of water margins is Chinas greatest novel of chivalry. Water margin is based on popular folk tales and fully reflects the thoughts and feelings prevalent at the time. Most importantly the novel depicts comrades among these men and the spirit of justice and accordance to the traditional ideals of the pheasants.
Therefore a water margin has gained wide acceptances among the city dwellers as well. Readers can easily imagine that they are fond of the hidden world of the underworld and feel the vigorous life force of the common people the story begins in the Northern Song capital Bian Jing, which is now Kaifeng.
