Outlaws of the Marsh

Outlaws of the Marsh

Outlaws of the Marsh is one of the Four Great Classics of Chinese literature, and one of the earliest long episodic novels written in vernacular Chinese. It was written by Shi Nai'an (1296–1370) during the late Yuan (1279-1368) and early Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, with later editing by Luo Guanzhong. The novel tells the story of 108 outlaws, led by Song Jiang, who gather at Mount Liang in the later years of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Dissatisfied with the corruption of government officials they become rebels, fighting against the government until they are eventually granted amnesty.

The brilliance of Outlaws of the Marsh lies in its vivid portrayal of characters and its depiction of the lives of common people. The novel balances a bold and rough style with intricate and complex plotlines, a plethora of lively characters with distinct personalities, and expressive dialogue. The book succeeds in creating distinct characters such as Song Jiang, Lin Chong, Li Kui, Lu Zhishen, and Wu Song, and provides a profound reflection of the society during the Northern Song period. Outlaws of the Marsh and Romance of the three Kingdoms laid the foundations for the style of ancient Chinese long novels, and shaped the unique aesthetic psychology and appreciation habits of the Chinese people.

《水滸傳》

《水滸傳》是中國古典小說四大名著之一，也是中國歷史上最早用白話文寫成的長篇章回體小說之一。《水滸傳》成書于元末明初，由施耐庵（1296—1370）著，羅貫中整理。小說講述了北宋后期，山東梁山泊以宋江為首的一百零八名好漢，不滿貪官污吏，愛打抱不平，先后被逼上梁山， 與腐化的朝廷抗爭，最后接受招安的全過程。

《水滸傳》的精彩之處在于人物刻畫和市井生活的描寫。小說故事豪放粗獷、情節曲折復雜，人物眾多、形象生動、個性鮮明、對話傳神，成功塑造了宋江、林沖、李逵、魯智深、武松等鮮明的人物形象，深刻反映了北宋年間廣闊的社會生活。《水滸傳》和《三國演義》奠定了中國古代長篇小說的民族風格，塑造了中華民族特有的審美心理和鑒賞習慣。