Publisher's Synopsis
Water Margin (水浒传), one of the four Chinese classics (四大名著), is a chapter-style (章回体) novel compiled by Shi Nai'an (施耐庵) in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasty (元末明初). The 14th-century Chinese novel, also known as Outlaws of the Marsh/Shuihuzhuan, mainly describes the story of 108 bandit-heroes, headed by Song Jiang (宋江), gathered in Liangshan, Shandong (山东梁山) in the late Northern Song Dynasty (北宋末年).
Through the description of the grand story of Liangshan heroes resisting oppression, their growth and various campaigns, recruitment of heroes by the Song Dynasty, and the grand narrative of the final demise of the Song Dynasty, the Chinese literary masterpiece artistically reflects the whole process of the Songjiang Uprising (宋江起义) in Chinese history from its occurrence, development to failure. The novel profoundly reveals the social roots of the uprising, enthusiastically praises the resistance struggle of the heroes of the uprising and their social ideals, and also categorically describes the inherent historical reasons for the failure of the uprising. "Water Margin" is one of the four great Chinese classical novels. After it came out, it had a huge social impact and became a model of Chinese novel creation in the later generations. In Chinese history (中国历史), "Water Margin" is one of the first chapter-style stories written in the vernacular (白话文), rather than Classical Chinese (古文). It is also one of the works with epic characteristics in Chinese language and literature. It has a profound influence on narrative literature in China and even East Asia. As such, the novel is well-known in China. No wonder, if you are learning Mandarin Chinese language, you are highly recommended to appreciate this literary masterpiece. Kindle Edition:www.amazon.com/dp/B08FDML26V
Paperback Edition:
www.amazon.com/dp/B08F6TF99X The book has 10 chapters in the following order (pay attention to the name of the heroes (e.g. 宋江) and their nicknames (e.g. 及时雨)):
Chapter 1: Song Jiang (第一章：及时雨宋江)
Chapter 2: Lin Chong (第二章：豹子头林冲)
Chapter 3: Lu Zhishen (第三章：花和尚鲁智深)
Chapter 4: Wu Yong (第四章：智多星吴用)
Chapter 5: Lu Junyi (第五章：玉麒麟卢俊义)
Chapter 6: Wu Song (第六章：行者武松)
Chapter 7: Li Kui (第七章：黑旋风李逵)
Chapter 8: Shi Xiu (第八章：拼命三郎石秀)
Chapter 9: Qin Ming (第九章：霹雳火秦明)
Chapter 10: Yang Zhi (第十章：青面兽杨志) The current book volume, China's Great Classical Novels 3, is a Level 6 Chinese reading practice book. It would introduce you to the famous Chinese novel Water Margin (simplified edition). The 3rd volume in the Classical Novels of Chinese Literature (中国古典文学) series includes both the Chinese text (simplified characters) and pinyin Romanization. With about over 1300 unique Chinese characters, the volume would be suitable for the lower intermediate and advanced level Chinese language learners (HSK 3-6). Overall, the reading series offers you a variety of elementary level books (Level 1/2/3/4/5/6) to understand China as well as practice Chinese reading fast. More books are available on the author's homepage:
https: //amzn.to/2ZnR4cg
