"Jin Shengtan's Criticism of Water Margin" Author: [Ming] Shi Naian / [Qing] Jin Shengtan's Criticism Publisher: Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House

Introduction

"Water Margin" is a chapter-based novel written by Shi Nai'an in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. It is one of the four great classical Chinese novels. It created a group of legendary heroes with distinct personalities and dazzling brilliance: the courageous and resolute Wu Song, the rude and simple Lu Zhishen, the righteous and capable Song Jiang, etc.

"Water Margin with Jin Shengtan's Comments" is a revised version by Jin Shengtan, a literary critic and eccentric talent in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He transformed Water Margin from the perspective of a literary scholar and gave it precise comments. Jin Shengtan's comments are a peak in the commentary of Chinese classical novels, creating a model for later commentary and influencing Mao Zonggang's comments on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Zhupo's comments on Jin Ping Mei, and Zhi Yanzhai's comments on The Story of the Stone. Compared with the popular version, the critical version integrates comments into the story, the unique opinions expressed by the commentator at the right time, and the wonderful points of the text mentioned along with the book, all of which provide readers with a brand new reading experience.

This book has a total of 120 chapters. In addition to the first 70 chapters of "Water Margin with Golden Comments", it also includes the last 50 chapters based on "The Complete Story of the Loyal and Righteous Water Margin", presenting a more complete "Water Margin" story to readers.