by Shi Nai-An
WATER MARGIN
WRITTEN BY SHIH NAI-AN
TRANSLATED BY
J. H. JACKSON
"Translation is a condition of order between nations, and therefore of places. In a still wider field it is the condition without which a common culture cannot exist."
-- J. Hilaire Belloo.
VOLUME ONE
THE COMMERCIAL PRESS, LIMITED
List of the 108 Heroes
at Liang Shan Po
NAME NICKNAME
An Tao-ch’uan Skilled Doctor
Ch’ai Chin Small Whirlwind
Chang Ching Arrow Without Feathers
Chang Ch’ing Vegetable Garden
Chang Heng Ship’s Apprentice
Chang Shun White Fish
Ch’en Ta Leaping Tiger
Cheng Tien-shou White Faced Squire
Chiang Chin Marvelous Mathematician
Chiao Ting Disliked One
Chin Ming Thunderer
Chin Ya-chien Precious Jade Engraver
Chou Tung Little Tyrant
Chu Fu Laughing Tiger
Chu Kwei Speedy Courier
Chu Tung Lord of the Beautiful Whiskers
Chu Wu Skillful Strategist
Fan Jui Devil of Disorder
Han Tao Hundred Victories General
Hao Ssu-wen Ching Mu Han
Hou Chien Nimble Monkey
Hsiao Jang Skilled Calligraphist
Hsiang Cheng Eight Arms Jin
Hsu Ning Spear Expert
Hsieh Chen Double Headed Snake
Hsieh Pao Doubled Tailed Scorpion
Hsuan Tsan Disgraced Son-in-law
Hsueh Yung Sick Tiger
Hu San (Miss) Pure One
Hu Yen-shao Two Bludgeons General
Huang Hsin Guardian of Three Mountains
Huang-Pu Tuan Purple Bearded Uncle
Hwa Jung Small Li Kuang
Ku, Mrs. Tigress
Kuan Sheng Big Sword
Kung Liang Fiery Planet
Kung Ming Restless Star
Kung-Sun Sheng Cloud Dragon
Kung Wang Tiger with Marked Neck
Kuo Sheng Rival of Jen Kwei
Lei Heng Winged Tiger
Li Chun Muddy Water Dragon
Li Chung Tiger Hunter
Li K’wei Black Whirlwind; Iron Ox
Li Li Murderous Angel
Li Mien Flying Monkey
Li Ying Striking Hawk
Li Yun Black Eyed Tiger
Lin Ch’ung Leopard’s Head
Ling Chen Roaring Thunder
Liu Tang Red Haired Devil
Lu Fang Little Marquis of Wen
Lu Ta Priest Hwa
Lu Tsun-I Jeweled Chilin
Ma Lin Iron Flute Jin
Meng Kang Flagstaff
Mu Chun Young Irresistible
Mu Heng Invulnerable One
O Peng Golden Winged Hawk
Pai Sheng Daylight Rat
Pao Hsu Ill-Omened Devil
Pei Hsuan Iron Supervisor
Peng Chi Heavenly Eyes General
Shan Ting-kwei Water Devil General
Shih Ch’ien Flea on the Drum
Shih Chin Tattooed Dragons
Shih En Goldened Eyed Tiger’s Cub
Shih Hsiu Life Risker
Shih Yung Stone General
So Ch’ao Hasty Scout
Sun Hsin Small Wei Chih
Sun Li Sick Wei Chih
Sun, Mrs. Night Ogre
Sung Chiang Welcome Rain
Sung Ching Iron Fan
Sung Wan Diamond in the Clouds
Tai Tsung Flying Prince
Tang Lung Cash marked Leopard
Teng Fei Blood-Shot-Eyed Demon
T’ao Tsung-Wang Nine Tailed Tortoise
Ting Te-sun Tiger Whose Arrows Hit The Mark
Ts’ai Ching The Flower
Ts’ai Fu Iron Arm
Ts’ao Ch’eng Sword Grasping Devil
Tsou Jen Horned Dragon
Tsou Yuan Forest Dragon
Tu Chien Sky Feeler
Tu Hsing Devil Faced Man
Tuang Ching-chu Golden Haired Dog
Tung Meng Whirling Conch Shell
Tung Ping Two Spears General
Tung Wei Cave Crocodile
Wang Ting-liu Living Pluto’s Wife
Wang Ying Stunted Tiger
Wei Ting-kwo Fire Devil General
Wu Sung Tiger Slayer
Wu Yung Clever Star
Yang Chun White Flowered Snake
Yang Chih Sallow Faced Brute
Yang Hsiung Sick Kwan So
Yang Lin Glorious Leopard
Yen Ch’ing Graceful One
Yen Shun Sleek Tiger
Yu Pao-ssu Colossal Spirit
Yuan, The Second Year’s God Who Stands His Ground
Yuan, The Fifth Short Life Erh Lang
Yuan, The Seventh Living Pluto
Yueh Ho Iron Flute
INTRODUCTION
BY THE AUTHOR SHIH NAI-AN
(THIRTEENTH CENTURY A.D.?)
A man should not marry after thirty years of age; should not enter the government service after the age of forty; should not have any more children after the age of fifty; and should not travel after the age of sixty. This is because the proper time for those things has passed. At sunrise the country is bright and fresh, and you dress, wash, and eat your breakfast, but before long it is noon. Then you realize how quickly time passes. I am always surprised when people talk about other people's ages, because what is a lifetime is but a small part of a much greater period. Why talk about insects when the whole world is before you? How can you count time by years? All that is clear is that time passes, and all the time there is a continual change going on. Some change has taken place ever since I began to write this. This continual change and decay fills me with sadness.
What excites pleasure in me is the meeting and conversing with old friends. But it is very galling when my friends do not visit me because there is a biting wind, or the roads are muddy through the rain, or perhaps because they are sick. Then I feel isolated. Although I myself do not drink, yet I provide spirits for my friends, as my family has a few fields in which we grow millet. In front of my house runs a great river, and there I can sit with my friends in the shadow of the lovely trees.
I have four old women to do the cooking and household affairs, and also ten small boys who act as messengers. And when they have nothing to do they fill up their spare time in making brooms and mats.
If all my friends came there would be sixteen, but because of the weather there are seldom more than six or seven here. When they come they drink and chat, just as they please, but our pleasure is in the conversation and not in the liquor. We do not discuss politics because we are so isolated here that our news is simply composed of rumors, and it would only be a waste of time to talk with untrustworthy information. We also never talk about other people's faults, because in this world nobody is wrong, and we should beware of backbiting. We do not wish to injure anyone, and therefore our conversation is of no consequence to anyone. We discuss human nature about which people know so little because they are too busy to study it.
My friends are all broad-minded, and well educated, but we do not keep a record of our conversations. The reason for this is (1) we are too lazy, and do not aspire to fame; (2) to talk gives us pleasure, but to write would give trouble; (3) none of us would be able to read it again after our deaths, so why worry; (4) if we wrote something this year we should probably find it all wrong the next year.
I have written these seventy chapters of the Shui Hu just for my own pleasure after my friends had left, or when they had not turned up owing to the weather. I have had no prec
onceived plan, but have jotted these items down just as they occurred to me, sometimes when sitting outside near the bamboo fence, or at early dawn when lying on my couch in pensive mood. But someone may ask, "As you did not write down your friends' conversations why have you written this book?" To which I reply (1) because it is just a hotchpotch, and cannot make me famous or even discredit me; (2) I have only done this to fill up my spare time, and give pleasure to myself; (3) I have written it so that the uneducated can read it as well as the educated; (4) I have used this style of composition because it is such a trifle.
Alas! Life is so short that I shall not even know what the reader thinks about it, but still I shall be satisfied if a few of my friends will read it and be interested. Also I do not know what I may think of it in my future life after death, because then I may not be able to even read it. So why think anything further about it?
PROLOGUE
HEAD TAOIST CHANG PRAYS FOR CESSATION
OF A PESTILENCE; ENVOY HUNG MAKES
A BLUNDER IN RELEASING FIENDS
Amid chaos of dynasties five,
Peaceful days at last revive;
Mountains and rivers are of yore,
Benevolence of hundred years and more.
Orioles sang in forest trees,
Entrancing music filled the air;
The people dressed in gorgeous silks,
Contentment reigned everywhere.
This poetry was written in the reign of Emperor Shen Tsung of the Sung dynasty by a famous scholar named Shao Yao-fu. At the close of the T'ang dynasty, and during the succeeding Five Dynasties there was continual civil warfare. In the morning one general would be supreme, but by evening another general would be in power. Generals Chu Chuan-chung Li Tsun-hsu, Shih Ching-tang, Liu Chihyuan, and Kuo Wei established respectively the Five Dynasties of Posterior, Liang, T'ang, Tsin, Han, and Chou (A.D. 907-960). There were fifteen emperors within fifty years. These frequent changes followed one after another until Chao Kwang-yin founded the Sung dynasty, and ascended the throne as Emperor Wu Te. When this great man was born the sky was all red, and in the bedroom there was a fragrant smell. This was because the God of Thunder descended among the mortals.
Wu Te was a brave hero, and very intelligent. No emperor from ancient times to the present can be compared to him. He was a wellmade man, and conquered four hundred divisions. He swept the floor of the whole empire, and left it clean. He established his capital at Pien Liang (modern Kaifeng), and laid the foundations for the succeeding eight emperors of the Sung dynasty which lasted for three hundred years. Because of this illustrious feat of arms the scholar states that "the clouds were dispersed, and heaven seen again."
At that time there was a very virtuous and learned man named Chen Tuan living on the Western Sacred Mountain, Hwa Shan, and he could foreknow the weather. One day as he was riding on his donkey down the mountain he heard a rumor that Ch'ai Shih-tsung had withdrawn in favor of General Chao Kwang-yin who had ascended the throne. When he heard this he laughed so much that he rolled off the donkey. When his informer asked for an explanation he replied, "The empire will now be settled, and heaven, earth and mankind will all be in harmony."
The Emperor Wu Te ascended the throne A. D. 960, and for the following seventeen years there was general peace. He was succeeded by his descendant Emperors T'ai Tsung, Chen Tsung, and Jen Tsung. Now Jen Tsung was the incarnation of the Heavenly Genii Chih Chiao (Bare-Footed Genii), and when he was born he cried continuously, day and night. His father, Emperor Chen Tsung issued a proclamation offering a reward to anyone who could cure the crying infant. When this became known in Heaven, the Genii T'ai Pai (Great Whiteness) was sent down to earth, and metamorphosed into an old man. He tore down the imperial proclamation, and said that he could effect a cure. An official took him to the court, where the emperor gave him permission to see the sick baby. Upon entering the palace he picked up the royal infant in his arms, and whispered eight words into his ear. Immediately the royal infant stopped crying and the old man vanished in a gust of wind. The words he whispered were:
For civil affairs there is a civil star,
For military affairs a military star.
As a matter of fact the Pearly Emperor (the great Taoist god) had already sent two stars (or spirits) to assist this new-born infant in those affairs when he became emperor.
The Civilian Spirit was incarnated in Pao Chen who later became grand secretary of the imperial council, and also governor of Kaifeng. The Military Spirit was incarnated in Ti Ching who became commander in chief of the expedition to Hsi Hsia Kwo, (modem Kansu). These two worthy ministers assisted the Emperor Jen Tsung for forty-two years. During the first twenty-seven years the crops were abundant, and there was general peace and prosperity. Robbery was rare, and the people could always leave their doors open even at night. In fact the people enjoyed abundant happiness in those years. But who could know that great happiness would be culminated in sorrow? In the 28th year a grave pestilence afflicted the Empire, and a flood of petitions inundated the capital like a heavy snowstorm.
In the Eastern Capital half of the people died. The Governor Pao Chen offered a special medicine free, but with no effect. The pestilence spread, and increased its virility. The officials discussed the situation in the Council Chamber and when the Emperor gave audience they all entered the Grand Audience Hall where they all kowtowed together. The appointed minister asked what business there was to bring before the Emperor, and the Prime Minister Chao Che, and the State Chancellor Wen Yen-po stopped forward. The former spoke, "Just now there is a serious pestilence in this Capital, and a great many people have died. I request that in your benevolence an edict be issued pardoning all criminals, reducing all sentences for future crimes, and lessening all taxes. We also beg Your Majesty to offer prayers to Heaven to save the lives of your people."
The Emperor at once agreed to this, and added to the edict that in all temples there should be special prayers to Heaven to stop this great calamity. Although this was done the pestilence still increased its ravages. When the Emperor was informed of this he summoned all ministers to discuss the matter, and during the meeting of the Grand Council Fan Chung-yen spoke, "This great calamity is inflicting the people who are on the verge of despair. I suggest that we send for the Head Taoist Chang at Lung Hu Shan (Dragon and Tiger Mountain), Kiangsi province, to offer special prayers here for the cessation of the pestilence."
The Emperor Jon Tsung agreed, and ordered a Hanlin scholar to write the edict. He signed it with the vermilion brush, and handed it to an attendant Hung Hsin to deliver it as the Imperial envoy. Hung Hsin fastened the edict on his back, held the Imperial incense in his hand, took about ten assistants, traveled by relays of horses, and soon reached Kwei Hsi Hsien in Kiangsi province. He was met and welcomed outside the various towns he passed through by the local officials. A messenger had been sent in advance to advise Head Taoist Chang of the approaching envoy.
Upon reaching Lung Hu Shan he was received by a big crowd of Taoist priests, with much beating of drums and gongs, much burning of incense, fluttering banners and music. The temple superintendent conducted the envoy into the Three Purities Hall where the Imperial edict was respectfully received. When the envoy, Hung Hsin, asked for Head Taoist Chang the superintendent replied, "The present Head Taoist is Hsu Ching who has a, pure and lofty nature. He is averse to soliciting favor, and has retired to a straw hut on the summit of the mountain where he cultivates Nirvana."
"Then how can I see him about this important matter?" asked Hung Hsin.
"We can leave the Imperial edict here unopened while we discuss that matter in another room," replied the superintendent.
This was done, and the envoy took the seat of honor while attendants brought in tea and vegetarian food for all. After the meal the superintendent explained that the Head Taoist had acquired the art of aviation by traveling on clouds so that they never knew where he might be. They very seldom saw him at the temple so they thought it hardly wo
rth while to advise him of the approach of the Imperial envoy.
Hung Hsin explained what the edict was about, and asked how he could meet the Head Taoist.
The superintendent replied, "As the Emperor wishes to save the people you must carry out his orders. You must therefore purify yourself by fasting, dress in plain rough clothes, then go by yourself (with the Imperial edict on your back) step by step up the mountain, and then you may have the chance of seeing the Head Taoist. But if your heart is not truly sincere, that may spoil your chance of meeting him."
"Since I left the capital," said Hung Hsin, "I have been a strict vegetarian so how could my intentions, be other than absolutely sincere? Such being the case I will follow your advice and go up the mountain to-morrow."
The following morning about 4 a. m. the priests prepared the fragrant water and invited the envoy to bathe. After bathing he put on new rough clothes and straw sandals; wrapped the Imperial edict in yellow silk and fastened it on his back; took a silver bowl with burning incense in his hands. He took leave of the priests and set off saying prayers as he walked. After some time the path became steeper, and he had to take hold of bushes and trees to pull himself up. He had traversed several summits, and began to feel extremely fatigued. It was now very hard walking, and he became hesitant as to whether to go forward or not. He thought of the pleasant, easy times he used to have in the Capital with rich varied food and comfortable beds. There he never wore rough clothes, and straw sandals, and was never tired like this. Why did they send him to experience such bitterness of soul? How could he find the Head Taoist
He struggled on for about fifty paces more, but was now panting for breath. A strong gust of wind blew down the ravine, and roared through the pines. Just then he saw a tiger rush out from the trees, and was so afraid and startled that he fell down. The tiger examined the envoy, walked round him, but after roaring returned to the forest. Hung Hsin lay there, his teeth grinding and his heart beating like "a chain of buckets raising water from a well." His sensation became numb, and he seemed paralyzed. His legs could not move, and seemed like a defeated cock after a fight. He began to whine about his fate.
