The Water Margin () is a 1998 Chinese television series adapted from the 14th-century classical novel of the same title by Shi Nai'an. Produced by CCTV and first broadcast in mainland China in January 1998, the series also featured action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping. Li Xuejian, Zang Jinsheng, Zhou Yemang, Ding Haifeng and Zhao Xiaorui and others starred as the 108 Heroes while Wei Zongwan portrayed the antagonist Gao Qiu. The ending theme songs were sung by Liu Huan (for the first 30 episodes) and Peng Liyuan (for the last 13 episodes).

The series proved to be deeply controversial among viewers, garnering mixed reviews because its realism required the deletion of most of the heroic-romantic elements of the original work. Some viewers also criticised it for "restoring" the original work's comradely spirit of "drawing one's sword to help one another in times of difficulty" into lawless banditry, and for "constituting a distortion of the original narrative".

List of episodes # Rough translation of title (in English) Original title (in Chinese) 1 Gao Qiu's rise to prominence 2 Beating up the Lord of the West 3 Creating a disturbance on Mount Wutai 4 Uprooting a willow tree 5 White Tiger Hall 6 Wild Boars Forest 7 Snow and wind at the Temple of the Mountain Deity 8 Lin Chong becomes an outlaw 9 Yang Zhi sells a saber 10 Gathering of the Seven Stars 11 Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts 12 Secretly releasing Heavenly King Chao 13 Killing Wang Lun 14 Song Jiang kills Yan Poxi 15 Jingyang Ridge 16 The brothers are reunited 17 Granny Wang stirs up romantic feelings 18 Wu Dalang catches the adulterous pair 19 Lion Tower 20 Beating up Jiang the Door God in a drunken state 21 Bloodbath at Mandarin Ducks Tower 22 Qingfeng Fort 23 Exiled to Jiangzhou 24 Writing a seditious poem at Xunyang Tower 25 Creating a disturbance in Jiangzhou 26 Li Kui carries his mother 27 Zhu Family Village (part one) 28 Zhu Family Village (part two) 29 Breaking the chain-linked cavalry formation 30 Zeng Family Fortress 31 Lu Junyi joins Liangshan 32 The Grand Assembly 33 Creating a disturbance in Dongjing during the Yuanxiao Festival 34 Yan Qing fights in a leitai match 35 Li Kui becomes a magistrate 36 Stealing wine and tearing the imperial order 37 Defeating Grand Marshal Gao 38 Amnesty 39 Blood spill at Chenqiao Courier Station 40 Campaign against Fang La 41 Soul departs at Yongjin Gate 42 Black Dragon Ridge is tainted with blood 43 Song Jiang's death

Cast Note: Some cast members played multiple roles. Their roles are separated by a slash.

Liangshan heroes

Others

Music The music for the series was composed by Zhao Jiping.

# Track title Artist Notes 1 "Heroes' Song" Liu Huan One of the ending theme songs 2 "Harmony in Heaven, Earth and Humankind" Peng Liyuan One of the ending theme songs 3 "Wang Jin beats Gao Qiu" Played during fight scenes 4 "Lin Chong's Night Journey" Played during the last part of episode 7 and some death scenes 5 "Song of the Magpie Bridge" Chen Junhua Sung by Li Shishi in episode 38 6 "Battle of Life and Death" Played during battle scenes 7 "Evening Drums and Morning Bells" Played during monastery scenes 8 "The Water Margin" Played during the scene in episode 8 when Lin Chong enters Liangshan Marsh 9 "Brotherhood" Played during light-hearted moments between the Liangshan heroes 10 "Palace Dance" Played during palace scenes 11 "Heroes of Mount Liang" Played during celebration scenes 12 "Restaurant in Jiangzhou" Yang Yaping Played during episode 23 at the restaurant scene 13 "The River is Red" Dai Jianmin Sung by Zhu Wu in episode 33 14 "Justice Exists in the World" Liu Huan Played during the victory scene in episode 37

See also The Water Margin (film) The Water Margin (1973 TV series) Outlaws of the Marsh (TV series) All Men Are Brothers (TV series)

References

External links

The Water Margin on Sina.com