What does Water Margin mean?

The literal meaning of Water Margin is "the story that happens by the water". "Hu" means "water's edge".

According to the meaning of the poem "The Book of Songs, Daya" quoted above, it is believed that King Wen of Zhou's grandfather, Gu Gongfu, had passed by Jingqi and Ershui in the process of creating the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty. Song Jiang and others also opposed the Song Dynasty at the water's edge, established their own regime, and named them"Water Margin"It has the meaning of advocating a peasant revolution.

"Water Margin" is one of the most popular classical long vernacular of the Chinese people. It was produced in the Ming Dynasty and was processed and created by the author on the basis of the stories, scripts and operas about the Water Margin since the Song and Yuan Dynasty.

The main theme of the book is the peasant uprising led by Song Jiang, and it artistically reproduces the tragic picture of the ancient Chinese people's resistance to oppression and heroic struggle. The work fully exposed the decadence and brutality of the feudal ruling class, exposed the sharp social contradictions at that time and the cruel reality of "official coercion and civil rebellion", and successfully shaped a group of heroes such as Song Jiang, Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, Wu Song, Lin Chong, and Ruan Xiaoqi.

**The plot of the story is twisty, the language is vivid, the characters are distinct, and there is a high degree of artistic achievement. However, the work praises and beautifies Song Jiang, and advocates "loyalty and righteousness" and "doing the right thing for heaven", showing serious ideological limitations.

Water Margin literally means water's edge, the other side of the water.

The implicit meaning is "the way out", "the place of refuge". From the "Book of Songs, Daya, Xuan" is used by the Zhou people to commemorate and praise their father.

The poem that contributed to the development of the Zhou tribe, the word "Water Margin" in the poem refers to the Zhou Yuan that was later used by the Zhou tribe to live and develop.

Therefore, the Water Margin is the story of desperate people in society looking for a new place to settle down.

One person reversed, two reversed, and three reversed ......One hundred and eight people reversed.

浒" (hu), water's edge. "The Book of Poetry, Wang Feng, Ge (three Tian characters under the head of the word)": Mianmian Ge (three Tian characters under the head of the word), in the Margin of the River.

浒" (xu) place name with the word. Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province has Hushu Pass; Jiangxi has Huwan. The above is the explanation of Cihai.

It should be said that "Hu" is a relatively obscure word.

Why did the author of "Water Margin" give this book this title? There are several theories about this: one is based on the "Book of Songs, Daya, Silk System (One Word)":

Gu Gong's father, come to the court, lead the West Water Margin, as for Qixia". It is said that King Wen of Zhou's grandfather, Gu Gong's father, in the process of creating the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty, passed through Qi and moved to Qishan, laying the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty and gradually taking shape of the country. The second is that Song Jiang and others live in Shuibo to wait for the Song Dynasty to recruit and serve the imperial court like Jiang Taigong waiting for the opportunity to assist King Wen on the shore of Weishui.

Song Jiang and others are not thieves, and Shuibo is also the "royal land". Hence the name "Water Margin". The third is that Song Jiang and others are thieves and murderers, like garbage thrown at the water's edge.

The Water Margin hero is the garbage at the water's edge. This is the explanation of Jin Shengsi. Fourth, it is believed that "Water Margin" has no special meaning, and it generally refers to all kinds of stories that happen by the water.

Of the above four theories, I think it is more appropriate to interpret only the first one. Several other claims are far-fetched and unconvincing.