Items related to The Water Margin: Chinese Classics

The Water Margin: Chinese Classics - Softcover

 
9788126433971: The Water Margin: Chinese Classics
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
The Water Margin is one of the "Four Great Classical Novels" of Chinese literature. Based upon the story of the historical bandit Song Jiang and his companions, this epic tale of a rebellion against tyranny has been thrilling and inspiring readers for hundreds of years. A stirring tale of a band of men left with no choice but to become outlaws when faced with a tyrannical and unjust government, The Water Margin is the Chinese equivalent of Robin Hood and His Merry Men. First gaining popularity in the West when it was translated by Pearl S. Buck as All Men Are Brothers, this classic tale is presented here in a detailed translation more faithful to the Chinese original.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Book Description:
based upon the historical bandit Song Jiang and his companions, this Chinese equivalent of the English classic Robin 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 as All Men Are brothers, the original edition of the J.H. Jackson translation appeared under the title The 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 of Shuihui 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 of The 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.
About the Author:
Shi Naian is one of the respected elders of Chinese literature. in addition to authoring Water Margin, he was also the teacher of Lo Kuan-chung, author of romance of the Three Kingdoms.

J. H. Jackson first came into contact with Chinese culture through his involvement with Presbyterian missionary efforts. His translation of The Water Margin was the first to closely follow the text of the Chinese original. it was his only translated work.

Edwin Lowe is Associate Lecturer of Chinese Studies in the Department of Asian Studies at Macquarie University, Sydney. He researches Chinese strategic and defense studies, comparative cultural and philosophical approaches to warfare, and the evolving nature of conflict and warfare.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

(No Available Copies)

Search Books:



Create a Want

If you know the book but cannot find it on AbeBooks, we can automatically search for it on your behalf as new inventory is added. If it is added to AbeBooks by one of our member booksellers, we will notify you!

Create a Want

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780804840958: The Water Margin: The Outlaws of the Marsh: Outlaws of the Marsh: The Classic Chinese Novel (Tuttle Classics)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0804840954 ISBN 13:  9780804840958
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, 2010
Softcover