“It’s just like Robin Hood and his Merry Men,
but instead of living in Sherwood Forest they all THE WATER
live by a big lake in China.”
Kerry, 10 MARGIN
THE WATER MARGIN Shi Nai’an
Although Song Jiang is only a lowly local government
official, he is loyal to the emperor and kind to all the citizens
SHI NAI’AN
in his care. But Song is in trouble. A series of unfortunate
incidents have led to him being arrested, and his political
enemies are keen to see him sentenced to death.
There is still hope, however. One hundred and eight brave
outlaws from Mount Liang have heard of Song’s good name
– they are willing to rescue him as long as Song will lead
them in rebelling against the corrupt government.
Will Song agree to
become an outlaw?
Will he be able
to tread the
narrow path
between right
and wrong?
Will justice
eventually
prevail over
corruption and
the misuse of
power?
ISBN 978-1-906230-37-1
Retold by Christine Sun
9 781906 230371 www.realreads.co.uk Illustrated by Shirley Chiang
THE WATER
MARGIN
TE
AC
SHI NAI’AN
HE
R’
S
IN
SP
EC
TI
O
N
RR
ON
reals
read
LY
www.realreads.co.uk
Retold by Christine Sun
Illustrated by Shirley Chiang
TE
CONTENTS
TE
AC
AC
HE
HE
The Characters 4
R’
R’
Published by Real Reads Ltd
Newbury, Berkshire, UK
S
www.realreads.co.uk
The Water Margin 9
S
IN
Text copyright © Christine Sun 2011
IN
Illustrations copyright © Shirley Chiang 2011 Taking things further 54
SP
The right of Christine Sun to be identified as
SP
author of this book has been asserted by her in accordance
with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988
EC
EC
First published in 2011
Reprinted 2013, 2014 (twice)
TI
TI
All rights reserved
O
O
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
N
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
N
photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval
ON
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
ON
ISBN 978-1-906230-37-1
LY
LY
Printed in China by Wai Man Book Binding (China) Ltd
Designed by Lucy Guenot
Typeset by Bookcraft Ltd, Stroud, Gloucestershire
‘Pilgrim’ Wu Song and ‘Whirlwind’ Li Kui
Wu and Li are known for
THE CHARACTERS their great strength. Will
TE
TE
their heroic acts win the
‘Monk’ Lu Zhishen and
AC
‘Leopard’ Lin Chong respect of the outlaws
AC
Lu and Lin are two of the first at Mount Liang?
HE
HE
fugitives to join the
‘Daredevil’ Shi Xiu and
outlaws at Mount Liang.
‘Sickman’ Yang Xiong
R’
R’
What makes them become
Shi and Yang have vowed to
S
outlaws in the first place?
S
treat each other as brothers.
IN
‘King’ Chao Gai and
IN
Can their friendship stand the
‘Resourceful’ Wu Yong
SP
tests of suspicion and betrayal?
SP
Chao is the original leader
‘Unicorn’ Lu Junyi
EC
of the outlaws at Mount and ‘Dragon’
EC
Liang. Wu is his strategist. Gongsun Sheng
TI
Between them they devise Lu and Gongsun are both
TI
O
schemes to rob the rich reluctant to join the outlaws
O
and help the poor.
N
at Mount Liang. What makes
N
them change their minds?
ON
ON
‘Welcome Rain’ Song Jiang ‘Clubs’ Huyan Zhuo and
‘Blade’ Guan Sheng
LY
Song admires the outlaws at Mount
LY
Huyan and Guan lead the
Liang but is determined to remain
imperial troops in their assaults
loyal to his country. Will he change
on Mount Liang. Can they
his mind and join them?
successfully defeat the outlaws?
4 5
Li Ying
Lu Zhishen,
‘Monk’
Lin Chong,
‘Leopard’
LEADER OF THE
LIANG OUTLAWS THE WATER MARGIN Li Jun
‘River Dragon’ ‘Attacking Hawk’
Chao Gai The marshes of
‘King’
Mount Liang Qin Ming
‘Thunderbolt’
The main characters in the
story have their names in orange THE 36
Wu Yong ‘HEAVENLY
‘Resourceful’ SPIRITS’
Song Jiang
‘Welcome Shi Jin
Wu Song Rain’ ‘Dragon
‘Pilgrim’ Tattoos’
Ruan Xiaoqi
Li Kui ‘Ruler of Hell’
‘Whirlwind’
Suo Chao
‘Charge Ahead’
Yan Qing Ruan Xiaoer Ruan Xiaowu
‘Stealthy ‘Unmoveable’ ‘Deadly Smile’
Wanderer’
Shi Xiu
‘Daredevil’
Yang Xiong ‘Sickman’
Lu Junyi Gongsun Sheng Zhu Tong
‘Unicorn’ ‘Dragon’ ‘Beautiful
Beard’
Guan Dai Zong
Sheng ‘Magic Hua Rong
‘Blade’ Traveller ’ ‘Little General’ Lei Heng ‘Winged Tiger’
Huyan
Zhou Chai Jin Xu Ning ‘Golden Lance’
‘Little
‘Clubs’
Whirlwind’ Xie Zhen
Dong Ping ‘Two-headed
‘Double Serpent’
Zhang Heng ‘Boatman’ Spears’ Xie Bao
‘Scorpion’ Yang Zhi ‘Blue-faced
Beast’
Zhang Shun
Liu Tang ‘Waveman’
Mu Hong
‘Red-haired ‘Unrestrained’ THE 72 ‘EARTHLY DEMONS’
Devil’
Zhang Qing
‘Featherless
Arrow ’
TE
THE WATER MARGIN
TE
AC
AC
For many decades the Song Empire had been
HE
HE
prosperous and strong. It was well served by
humble emperors and their diligent servants, and
R’
R’
the people lived in peace and happiness.
S
S
Then, without any warning, a terrible plague
IN
broke out. It spread to every corner of the empire.
IN
The emperor, concerned for his people, decided
SP
SP
to appoint a renowned spiritual master to lead
EC
the empire in praying for heavenly blessings.
EC
Marshal Hong was sent to meet the guru at his
TI
temple and bring him back to the capital.
TI
O
O
N
N
Marshal Hong was an arrogant man. When he
ON
ON
reached the temple where the guru lived, he
insisted on being given a tour. There was one
LY
LY
room whose door was tightly locked. Ignoring
the temple official’s advice, Hong ordered that
the door be opened. Inside the room was nothing
9
TE
but a stone tablet covering a large hole in the emperor what he had done. As we shall see,
TE
ground. Four words were engraved into the however, the results of Hong’s arrogance would
AC
AC
tablet – ‘Thus revealed with Hong.’ have enormous consequences in the years to come.
Assuming the words referred to him, Hong The one hundred and eight spirits released by
HE
HE
ordered that the tablet be removed. Hong would return as mortal heroes, and in time
Boom! would change the course of the Song Empire.
R’
R’
A mass of smoke blasted out of the
S
S
hole and up into the sky, destroying half of
IN
the temple roof. As Marshal Hong and the The plague eventually passed, and the empire
IN
temple official ducked for cover, the smoke recovered. Some sixty years later a handsome
SP
SP
transformed into a hundred and eight beams clown named Gao Qiu arrived at the capital.
EC
of golden light, which radiated in all directions Capable of many circus tricks, Gao knew
EC
and then disappeared. exactly how to please his audience, especially
TI
Trembling, Hong demanded to know what the emperor of the time. The emperor was so
TI
O
had happened. With a sour face the temple delighted by Gao’s excellent juggling that the
O
official explained. ‘Deep in that hole were
N
clown was awarded with a high-ranking post in
N
thirty-six heavenly spirits and seventy-two the government.
ON
ON
earthly demons imprisoned by the spiritual Power went to Gao’s head. He thought he was
master. Now that you have let them out the now ringmaster of the whole circus. He bullied
LY
LY
whole world will be devastated.’ the other officials and sacked many of those most
Marshal Hong was deeply ashamed. When loyal to the emperor. In their place Gao promoted
he returned to the capital he did not tell the his own friends and relatives to high power.
10 11
TE
meant that The Water Margin has remained The Three Kingdoms – also available in Real
TE
one of the most popular Chinese books ever Reads – because it might give them dangerous
AC
AC
written. ideas about fraud and deception). With the
During the Yuan Dynasty, when Shi exception of the three women outlaws, the
HE
HE
was writing The Water Margin, there was few female characters in the book are almost
widespread resentment towards China’s always depicted as being selfish and deserving
R’
R’
Mongol rulers, and The Water Margin with its to be punished. The Water Margin is often
S
themes of citizen revolt and popular uprising thought of as a ‘bad boys’ book’ with some very
S
became a common source for dramatic questionable ideas about what ‘brotherhood’
IN
IN
adaptation. Stories of the Mount Liang really means.
SP
outlaws reflected a desire among the common Nonetheless, The Water Margin holds
SP
people to rise up against a cruel and unjust an important position in China’s literary
EC
EC
government. It is no wonder that later, during history as the first full-length work written in
the Ming Dynasty when the government everyday Chinese as opposed to a high literary
TI
TI
became increasingly corrupt and incompetent, style. Its descriptions of ordinary people’s
O
the Emperor decided to ban Shi’s book! lives, practices, views and beliefs are highly
O
N
Despite its popularity, there is a traditional convincing, and have enriched numerous
N
warning in Chinese that young people should other forms of art. The codes of ethics
ON
ON
not read The Water Margin, as the book places highlighted in the book, such as responsibility,
an unhealthy emphasis on violence, brawls and justice, friendship and family duty, have been
LY
LY
male machismo (the same warning goes on to important in developing Chinese thinking.
say that old people should not read
58 59
