Introduction

At the end of the Northern Song, corrupt ministers rule and the people suffer. One hundred and eight heroes gather, each by his own road, at the marshes of Liangshan: Lin Chong the Panther Head, driven into outlawry; the Flowery Monk Lu Zhishen, who uproots a willow and kills a bully with three blows; Wu Song the Pilgrim, who slays a tiger with his bare hands on Jingyang Ridge; Li Kui the Black Whirlwind with his twin axes; and Wu Yong the Wizard, who seizes a convoy of birthday gifts by a ruse. Led by Song Jiang, the Timely Rain, they 'act on behalf of heaven' and outwit the imperial armies, until they accept an amnesty from the court and, after a campaign against the rebel Fang La, are killed or scattered. Based on the rising of Song Jiang, this novel is famous for its vivid characters and lively language, and phrases such as 'driven to Liangshan' are still in everyday use. We publish the complete translation in volumes.