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Shi NaianChinese novelist
Country:
 China |
Content:
Biography of Shi Nai'an
Shi Nai'an was a Chinese prose writer and the author of the novel "Water Margin." He lived during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and little is known about his life. It is known that he obtained a small bureaucratic position, but resigned after only two years.
The Novel "Water Margin"
"Water Margin" is the only known work by Shi Nai'an. It is a novel that belongs to the genre of adventure and fantasy, and is based on folk tales about the exploits and adventures of the 108 "noble outlaws" from the Liangshan Marsh camp during the Song Dynasty. In this epic novel, the author expresses his dream of heroes who can free their homeland from oppression. Along with the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong, which appeared in the same 14th century, "Water Margin" laid the foundation for Chinese "multi-threaded prose," which continued to develop until the present century.
Characters and Themes
The heroes of "Water Margin" are participants of a popular uprising in the 12th century. Some of the notable characters include Sun Jian, known as the "Righteous," Lu Da, the "Tattooed Monk," Lin Chong, the "Panther Head," Yang Zhi, the "Black-faced Beast," and Wu Song, among others. The writer's democratic views and his closeness to peasant ideals are revealed in many scenes of the novel. The uprising's leaders, such as Sun Jian and Lin Chong, had to endure numerous struggles and internal conflicts before joining the rebellion.
In the novel, the rebels organize raids from their camp and try to recruit individuals they need, such as military commanders, wizards, and bureaucrats. Most of them are lured by trickery or even brought by force. However, after spending some time in the camp, these individuals choose to stay, realizing that the rebels lead a far more just life than the feudal lords. The Russian translation of "Water Margin" concludes with the 70th chapter, which depicts an ideal state with its own economic system and political institutions.
Influence and Legacy
"Water Margin" holds a unique place in Chinese literature and has parallels with European literature, not only from the Middle Ages but also from the Renaissance period. For example, it shares similarities with English ballads about Robin Hood and the German folk book about Till Eulenspiegel. There are various versions of the novel, with the number of chapters ranging from 70 to 120. In the 17th century, the novel was edited by Jin Shengtan, giving it its modern form with 70 chapters, which has been translated into other languages. Many collectors of legends about the "water margin outlaws," including Shi Nai'an, continued the narrative about the heroes of Liangshan Marsh, depicting their struggle against foreign invaders and the tragedy of the popular uprisings, including the defeat and subsequent execution of the noble outlaws.
