The Outlaws of the Marsh

by Shi Nai'an, Luo Guanzhong, Sidney Shapiro

The legendary account of 108 "Stars from Heaven" who, faced with a corrupt bureaucracy, flee to Liangshan Marsh, from a fortress there thwarting minions of the evil regime while continuing to serve the emperor. In its mix of politics, military tactics, action, martial arts, magic, and even the bawdy (the chapters on Wu Song laying the groundwork for Jin Ping Mei), this beloved novel is an unsurpassed classic in any language.

Genres: China, Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction

600 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2007

About the author

Shi Nai'an (Chinese: 施耐庵; pinyin: Shī Nài'ān, ca. 1296–1372), was a Chinese writer from Suzhou. He was attributed as the first compiler of the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.
Library of Congress Authorities: Shi, Nai’an, approximately 1290-approximately 1365

Not much biographical information is known about him. Traditionally it was believed that he was a teacher of Luo Guanzhong, who was attributed as a main compiler of Romance of Three Kingdoms, another of the Four Great Classical Novels. Some modern scholars doubt that Shi actually existed, but was merely a pseudonym for Luo himself.

Reviews

[Caroline]

Once again unintentional serendipitous simultaneous reading leads to a dual review: of Halldór Laxness’s Wayward Heroes (translated by Philip Roughton) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... and Outlaws of the Marsh by Shi Nai’an and Luo Guanzhong, translated by Sidney Shapiro. (I am given to understand that there is no adequate English translation of The Outlaws of the Marsh, but it’s on Philip Ward’s Lifetime Reading list, and this abridged version was the best I could do. And, in fact, I read in another GR review that the Heroes translation is actually from the Swedish translation because the ‘medieval’ Icelandic that Laxness invented for his original version is very difficult.)

While both are about mythic violence and outlawry, Outlaws is of its time, collected folk tales of bandit heroes in China during the reign of Hui Zong ( reigned 1101 to 1125). Heroes is Laxness’s 1950s anti-glorification of Viking thugs is set a little earlier; the action takes place before, during and somewhat after the reign of Olaf Haraldsson in Norway (lived 995-1030). It is loosely based on actual sagas, however.

I enjoyed both books, and would have individually, but the contrast of bouncing them off each other as I read added immensely to my perceptions of each one. Both are about the brotherhood that is sworn among men seeking fortune and glory. But in Heroes the tight brotherhood is among two men only, with the other Viking players fluid and much less (if at all) loyal to each other. In fact, both Nordic and Christian leaders and warriors change sides on an almost daily basis, depending on who looks to be ahead at the moment. The core outlaw band in Outlaws is much more cohesive, and grows day by day as those in the system (government or family dynasty) abandon the establishment and join the outlaws (granted, often because they’ve been kidnapped and see no other option now that their public image has been compromised). Another variation is in the attitude toward glory. In the Saga, it’s about individual glory: being the best even if it’s attained by subterfuge. The Chinese outlaws, however, keep a traditional attitude of group glory, meticulously deferring to each other when it comes to seating location and who is chosen as leader.

Violence is at the heart of both books. For a few key characters, violence is what they are to the core. Li Kui and orgeir are exemplars of blood lust. But neither world hesitates to slash, burn and loot. The beheadings are beyond numbering. In their own self-story, the Chinese outlaws long to be forgiven and turn to defending the state and emperor again. But none of them are really political outlaws; they broke the law in anything from relatively minor ways to outright blind rage killing. The Vikings, on the other hand, are on the cusp of changing times in their own land. French and Swedish kings are happy to use them as (very dumb) mercenaries, but in Iceland prosperous, wiser chieftains tell them to stay at home and tend to their lands. Hard to know whether this is accurate, but Laxness is not really carrying on the saga tradition; he is gutting it to show violence for the violence it is, no romance about it. Other reviews cite Heroes as Laxness on the stupidity of the Cold War. It could certainly be about the stupidity and inhumanity of any violent culture or attitude today.

I should mention one other common feature of the books. They are both quite funny. Outlaws offers slapstick, trickery, and banter. Laxness laces almost every scene with a caustic but comic sarcasm about the contrast between the romantic aura of the sagas and the actual filth, thuggery, stupidity, lust, rapine, discomfort, ineptness, prehensile technology, ugliness, disloyalty, and suffering of Viking life.

To me the main value of Outlaws is as a classic of Chinese literature and to catch the references to it in subsequent Asian literature and film. For example, it includes the genesis of the Chin P’ing Mei (Plum in the Golden Vase). Laxness, however, is a work of art. While the subject is violence, the book is as much about the relations between men and women and the role of the artist. For one of the sworn brothers is a skald, whose role is not so much to do battle as to glorify in epic poetry the brother who fights to best all others, no matter how vile his actions or his ‘cause’. Yet another skald wanders through events baldly revising history to portray ignominy as victory in order to enhance a king; he is ever-prepared to abandon a fading king to join an up and coming man with plunder to share. Rather like the main character in Saramago’s History of the Siege of Lisbon, we are left to wonder what really happened at events we know only from ancient tales, and to ask whether we judge an artist by his truth or by his ‘art’.

In sum, both worth reading for understanding where these cultures have been, where they went, and how we haven’t really escaped these times. Laxness in particular is a beautiful work of art.

[Moushine Zahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Chinese Classic Novel I've read. This novel is much easier to read than the Classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". This book is about 100 some Chinese innocent and honest officials from various provinces, who've been wronged by other corrupt officials with more power. Thus, they'all fled their families, jobs, and homes to become outlaws of the Marsh mountain where they've formed their own army protecting themselves against the corrupt officials until they've become very strong and challenge even the emperor's army. The book describes in details the tale of each of these official on who they were, what happened to them, and how they become outlaws.

Western readers might compare this novel to the story of Robin Hood. This novel shows how in a country where corruption and injustice is too common, those who are not corrupt and are just will have no choice but leave and offer their services to whomever want it. It also a book about military conflicts and strategies, about honesty and integrity. The themes written on this book is still of actuality today as innocent and honest government officials working inside a corrupt regime have no choice but to immigrate in another country.

This book is quite entertaining to read with many lessons to learn still applicable today.

[Niko Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you heard of these outlaws in the gallant fraternity? I picked up this three volume set (note: this review is only for volume 1) published by Foreign Languages Press for the superior Shapiro translation and inset illustrations. The sprawling cross-section of Song dynasty society — monks, footsoldiers, generals, so many bandits, bun salesmen, cheating women, tiger killing sheriffs, court magistrates, imperial arms instructors, poor fishermen and peasants, rich feudal lords… the list could on— gives one a kaleidoscopic insight into this time period. Often, despite the righteous character of these protagonists, the cheating and conniving powers that be turns these gallant men into outlaws, eventually ending up in the mountain fortress of liangshan marsh. Shapiro did a wonderful job translating the flowery and often whimsical tone of the Chinese original. It took a longer time than expected to read, due to the shear amount of characters with (as an American) Chinese names that often appear similar and frequently intersect across the story. Regardless, the leaders of this band of heroes are distinct and memorable.

The crafty proto-guerilla warfare employed by these bandit protagonists brings to mind the Jiangshan base area led by Mao following the abortive autumn harvest uprising in the early Chinese civil war. Supposedly this book was one of the very few that Mao brought with him into the mountains, where he led a detachment of the red army (which included bandits turned revolutionaries) that frequently beat back warlord and KMT encirclement.

[Gene Quagmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite translation by far, but I prefer the standard Chinese names rather than some authors' decisions to focus on English nicknames (I find them far harder to keep straight). I would also suggest if you're not familiar with China that it might actually be better to watch the excellent TV production of this series. It's easier to keep straight with visual memory cues.

[Ctalreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Het bijzondere aan dit oud Chinese verhaal is dat de tekst eeuwenlang mondeling is doorverteld door professionele verhalenvertellers en dus telkens wat werd bijgewerkt tot het in het begin van de 16e eeuw voor het eerst werd opgeschreven. Dit boek vertegenwoordigt daarmee een stuk geschiedenis van China, een verhaal wat wordt verteld door het volk.

In de vele bladzijden wordt het verhaal verteld van verschillende helden die stelen van de rijken en de armen ondersteunen. Zij zijn trouw aan de keizer. De verschillen de personages zijn kleurrijk en mooi beschreven. Maar de verhalen zijn vaak wel gewelddadig en vrouwonvriendelijk. Mao Zedong, was zeer gesteld op deze roman waarin bij de boerenrevolutie verheerlijkt zag.

Dit gezegd hebbende moet ik bekennen dat ik het boek niet uitgelezen heb. Na pagina 300 van de 1642 heb ik het boek terzijde gelegd. Ik merkte dat ik excuses ging bedenken om andere dingen te lezen of te doen. Alhoewel niet slecht geschreven pakte het boek mij niet. Het is een oud verhaal met vele verschillende personages die toch steeds dezelfde soort avonturen beleefden. Ik kan mij voorstellen dat dit verhaal destijds goed vermaak is geweest voor het volk. Maar het kon mij als Westerse vrouw geen 1642 bladzijdes boeien. Dus een diepe buiging voor dit stukje Chinese cultuur maar ik pak toch het volgende boek……

[Publius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendous epic of Chinese literature. This one in particular is unique in that it deals with heroic rebellion, which has often been censored in the history of China. Influenced by Confucian teachings, Chinese literature generally portrays its heroes as completely unwavering in loyalty to the system and their superiors. However, Shi illustrates the decadent Song Dynasty with treacherous governing that essentially gives these outlaws a divine right (替天行道) to rebel against the government. Unfortunately I was very disappointed with the last 10-12 chapters, not because many of the heroes died, but because of the complete surrender and eventual servile attitude of the outlaws to the government. I would've liked the novel to end with the outlaws still being hunted.

[Alan Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I certainly don't agree with all of the author's point of view of which characters are good and villainous, and the constantly shifting focal characters makes this story hard to follow at times, this book is very good at weaving these only loosely connected stories together so that they have continuity and as soon as one character's story finishes you are immediately drawn to another, making you perpetually want to read just one more chapter to see what happens next.

[Magda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't relate to this book at all. It seemed alien not only in background, plot and characters, but also in spirit.