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Based upon the historical bandit Song Jiang and his companions, this Chinese equivalent of the English classicRobin Hood and His Merry Men is an epic tale of rebellion against tyranny and has been thrilling and inspiring readers for hundreds of years. This edition of the classic J. H. Jackson translation features a new preface and introduction by Edwin Lowe, which gives the history of the book and puts the story into perspective for modern readers. First translated into English by Pearl S. Buck in 1933 asAll Men Are Brothers, the original edition of the J.H. Jackson translation appeared under the titleThe Water Margin in 1937. In this updated edition, Edwin Lowe addresses many of the shortcomings found in the original J.H. Jackson translation, and replaces the original grit and flavor ofShuihui Zhuan found in Chinese versions, including the sexual seduction, explicit descriptions of brutality and barbarity, and the profane voices of the thieving, scheming, drinking, fighting, pimping lower classes of Song Dynasty China. Similarly, the Chinese deities, Bodhisattvas, gods and demons have reclaimed their true names, as has the lecherous, over-sexed and ill-fated Ximen Qing. All of which was sanitized out when first published in 1937. While Chinese in origin, the themes ofThe Water Margin are universal enough that it has served as a source of inspiration for numerous movies, television shows and video games up to the present day.… (más)
DavidGoldsteen: Another of the great "Four Classics" of Chinese literature. A fun read for anyone who likes historical novels, this book is historical in both senses -- it was written several centuries ago, and refers to a time in the distant past.
The characters are sharply drawn, the stories clever, and there's rarely a dull moment.… (más)
This is a translation from the Chinese made by a missionary, although the idea that a church man performed this translation may seem strange when you look at the plot and the several themes that occur and reoccur in along the novel. Calling the text a novel is also misleading, as this is more a collection of stories which all end up at the marsh. The marsh is an appropriate place for all of these bandits who are escaping from the law, a law which in some cases they were serving, but which, through bad luck and fate has made them turn into highwaymen. We don’t know exactly how many, but from the thousands that are mentioned, probably more than can comfortably find shelter in a desolate place in the countryside. The accommodation for all of these people are a mystery not easily solved; the intake is forever growing --it seems China is a very dangerous place to live.
The story has different variations: a man who works for the government falls out of grace through bad luck or fate, or drunkenness, and commits a crime that makes him leave his town, city, regiment, and start a life of banditry. Before he is accepted he has to fight some of the bandit heroes; after proving his worth and mettle, he becomes one of the leaders. This happens all the time, so I’m not spoiling the plot. After reading two chapters you can work it out for yourself. Ah, don’t go to an inn, or be very careful in them, as some of them make dumplings out of customers, in a never-ending cycle of guest-dumpling-dumpling eaten by a guest who becomes a dumpling and so forth. Luckily for our heroes, they are saved by the bell when someone recognizes them.
Women are very unlucky in this novel, as only one -with some female partners- appears in a fighting role. The others die because they have deprecated a hero, or because they have an extra-marital affair.
Also, if you are a servant in the house of someone who has a dispute with the hero, tough luck: you’ll be part of a massacre. Sometimes, if you are an innocent bystander you may also become involved -that is: killed violently.
Clothes play an important role in the text, I presume, but I don’t know which. Many passages are devoted to the way someone is dressed; I guess this was very meaningful to the readers at the time.
The heroes, after defeating the Emperor’s troops, would be very happy if the Emperor (who is not guilty of the corruption of the court, no sir), pardoned them, and made them soldiers. This is not such a bad idea, because they always defeat the Imperial armies, and their strategy and morale is better.
There are some issues with the translation: cash is treated as a countable noun, as in one cash. Some verbs have been forgotten by the proofreader and have no -d at the end when one is expecting a past tense. Commas are used loosely in the text. ( )
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
This eight-lined poem was written during the reign of Emperor Shen Zong of the Song Dynasty by a scholar named Shao Yaofu, also known a Master Kang Jie.
Citas
Últimas palabras
Información procedente del conocimiento común inglés.Edita para encontrar en tu idioma.
Remains of these ancient sites still exist to this day.
Based upon the historical bandit Song Jiang and his companions, this Chinese equivalent of the English classicRobin Hood and His Merry Men is an epic tale of rebellion against tyranny and has been thrilling and inspiring readers for hundreds of years. This edition of the classic J. H. Jackson translation features a new preface and introduction by Edwin Lowe, which gives the history of the book and puts the story into perspective for modern readers. First translated into English by Pearl S. Buck in 1933 asAll Men Are Brothers, the original edition of the J.H. Jackson translation appeared under the titleThe Water Margin in 1937. In this updated edition, Edwin Lowe addresses many of the shortcomings found in the original J.H. Jackson translation, and replaces the original grit and flavor ofShuihui Zhuan found in Chinese versions, including the sexual seduction, explicit descriptions of brutality and barbarity, and the profane voices of the thieving, scheming, drinking, fighting, pimping lower classes of Song Dynasty China. Similarly, the Chinese deities, Bodhisattvas, gods and demons have reclaimed their true names, as has the lecherous, over-sexed and ill-fated Ximen Qing. All of which was sanitized out when first published in 1937. While Chinese in origin, the themes ofThe Water Margin are universal enough that it has served as a source of inspiration for numerous movies, television shows and video games up to the present day.
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(4.09)
Read along: The Water Margin - Outlaws of the Marsh
1
The story has different variations: a man who works for the government falls out of grace through bad luck or fate, or drunkenness, and commits a crime that makes him leave his town, city, regiment, and start a life of banditry. Before he is accepted he has to fight some of the bandit heroes; after proving his worth and mettle, he becomes one of the leaders. This happens all the time, so I’m not spoiling the plot. After reading two chapters you can work it out for yourself. Ah, don’t go to an inn, or be very careful in them, as some of them make dumplings out of customers, in a never-ending cycle of guest-dumpling-dumpling eaten by a guest who becomes a dumpling and so forth. Luckily for our heroes, they are saved by the bell when someone recognizes them.
Women are very unlucky in this novel, as only one -with some female partners- appears in a fighting role. The others die because they have deprecated a hero, or because they have an extra-marital affair.
Also, if you are a servant in the house of someone who has a dispute with the hero, tough luck: you’ll be part of a massacre. Sometimes, if you are an innocent bystander you may also become involved -that is: killed violently.
Clothes play an important role in the text, I presume, but I don’t know which. Many passages are devoted to the way someone is dressed; I guess this was very meaningful to the readers at the time.
The heroes, after defeating the Emperor’s troops, would be very happy if the Emperor (who is not guilty of the corruption of the court, no sir), pardoned them, and made them soldiers. This is not such a bad idea, because they always defeat the Imperial armies, and their strategy and morale is better.
There are some issues with the translation: cash is treated as a countable noun, as in one cash. Some verbs have been forgotten by the proofreader and have no -d at the end when one is expecting a past tense. Commas are used loosely in the text. (