# Water Margin > 14th century Chinese novel, attributed to Shi Nai’an, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels **Wikidata**: [Q70827](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70827) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Margin) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/water-margin ## Summary Water Margin is a 14th‑century Chinese novel attributed to the writer Shi Nai’an and is counted as one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It is a literary work in the adventure and historical fiction traditions and is known under multiple English and Chinese aliases (e.g., Shui Hu Zhuan, All Men Are Brothers, Outlaws of the Marsh). ## Key Facts - Title (English): Water Margin. - Wikipedia title: Water Margin. - Wikidata description: "14th century Chinese novel, attributed to Shi Nai’an, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels." - Publication date (recorded): +1400-00-00T00:00:00Z. - Century of origin: 14th century. - Attributed author: Shi Nai’an (Chinese writer; 1296–1372). - Literary class: literary work — a written work read for enjoyment or edification (sitelink_count: 20). - Primary genres: adventure fiction (sitelink_count: 27) and historical fiction (sitelink_count: 30). - Part of: Four Great Classical Novels — novels regarded as the greatest and most influential pre-modern Chinese fiction (sitelink_count: 44). - Aliases and alternate titles: Shui Hu Zhuan; All Men Are Brothers; Shui-hu Chuan; Outlaws of the Marsh; Tale of the Marshes; Men of the Marshes; The Marshes of Mount Liang. - Related historical dynasties (connected entities): Yuan dynasty (Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China, inception +1271-01-01T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 99) and Ming dynasty (imperial dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644; inception +1368-00-00T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 132). - Sitlink count for this entry (Water Margin): 58. - Shi Nai’an entity metadata: Chinese writer, life dates 1296–1372; sitelink_count: 33; (recorded occupation and citizenship identifiers available in source data). ## FAQs Q: What is Water Margin? A: Water Margin is a 14th‑century Chinese novel attributed to Shi Nai’an and listed among China’s Four Great Classical Novels. It appears in the adventure and historical fiction traditions. Q: Who wrote Water Margin? A: The novel is attributed to Shi Nai’an, a Chinese writer recorded with life dates 1296–1372. The attribution is the standard one recorded in reference data. Q: When was Water Margin published? A: The structured record lists a publication date of +1400-00-00T00:00:00Z, placing its origin in the 14th century. Q: What are common English titles and other names for Water Margin? A: Common alternate titles include All Men Are Brothers, Outlaws of the Marsh, Tale of the Marshes, Men of the Marshes, Shui Hu Zhuan, Shui-hu Chuan, and The Marshes of Mount Liang. Q: What genres does Water Margin belong to? A: It is categorized as adventure fiction and historical fiction. It is also identified as a literary work intended for enjoyment or edification. Q: Is Water Margin one of the Four Great Classical Novels? A: Yes. Water Margin is one of the novels counted among the Four Great Classical Novels, which are regarded as the greatest and most influential pre-modern Chinese fiction. Q: What historical periods or dynasties are connected to Water Margin in the source data? A: The entry is connected to the Yuan dynasty (inception +1271-01-01T00:00:00Z) and the Ming dynasty (inception +1368-00-00T00:00:00Z) in the provided relationships. ## Why It Matters Water Margin matters because it is recorded as a 14th‑century Chinese novel attributed to Shi Nai’an and is formally recognized as one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. That designation places it among the canonical pre-modern Chinese narratives that are central to the study and appreciation of classical Chinese fiction. Its classification under both adventure fiction and historical fiction indicates its importance for readers and scholars interested in narrative forms that combine action-driven plots with historical settings. The variety of English and Chinese aliases shows the work’s wide textual transmission and the multiple ways it has been presented in translation and scholarship. The recorded publication date and the inclusion of connected historical dynasties (Yuan and Ming) further situate the novel in a specific literary-historical context important for chronology and comparative studies. ## Notable For - Being a 14th‑century Chinese novel attributed to Shi Nai’an (1296–1372). - Inclusion among the Four Great Classical Novels, a canonical grouping of pre-modern Chinese fiction. - Having multiple widely used English and Chinese titles (e.g., All Men Are Brothers; Outlaws of the Marsh; Shui Hu Zhuan). - Classification in both adventure fiction and historical fiction genres. - A recorded publication_date entry of +1400-00-00T00:00:00Z in the structured data. - A high level of cross-referencing in Wikimedia properties (sitelink_count: 58 for Water Margin). ## Body ### Overview - Water Margin is a literary work classified in the source data as a 14th-century Chinese novel. - The source records a formal publication_date of +1400-00-00T00:00:00Z. - The work is attributed to Shi Nai’an, identified in the data as a Chinese writer with life dates 1296–1372. ### Authorship and Attribution - The attributed author is Shi Nai’an (1296–1372). - Shi Nai’an is recorded in the source with a sitelink_count of 33 and with occupation and citizenship identifiers included in the original structured data. ### Place in Chinese Literature - Water Margin is explicitly identified as one of the Four Great Classical Novels. - The Four Great Classical Novels are described in the source as novels regarded as the greatest and most influential pre-modern Chinese fiction (sitelink_count: 44). - The entry is linked to that parent group in the provided relationships. ### Genres and Literary Classification - The novel is classified under adventure fiction, defined in the source as a genre where an adventure forms the main storyline (sitelink_count: 27). - It is also classified as historical fiction, a story set in the past and treated as a film and literary genre in the source (sitelink_count: 30). - The work is placed in the broader class "literary work," defined as a written work read for enjoyment or edification (sitelink_count: 20). ### Titles and Translations - The structured data lists multiple aliases and alternate titles: Shui Hu Zhuan; All Men Are Brothers; Shui-hu Chuan; Outlaws of the Marsh; Tale of the Marshes; Men of the Marshes; The Marshes of Mount Liang. - These aliases indicate the variety of titles under which the novel appears in English and transliterated Chinese. ### Historical Context Connections - The source links Water Margin to two major historical dynasties: the Yuan dynasty and the Ming dynasty. - Yuan dynasty (related entity): described as the Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China, with an inception date of +1271-01-01T00:00:00Z and a sitelink_count of 99. - Ming dynasty (related entity): recorded as the imperial dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, with an inception date of +1368-00-00T00:00:00Z and a sitelink_count of 132. - These dynastic entries appear as connected entities in the provided data set. ### Metadata and Reference Counts - The Water Margin entry has a sitelink_count of 58 in the provided structured data. - The work’s Wikipedia title is recorded as "Water Margin." - The provided Wikidata description succinctly states: "14th century Chinese novel, attributed to Shi Nai’an, one of China's Four Great Classical Novels." ### Related Entities (summary) - Shi Nai’an: attributed author; Chinese writer; life dates 1296–1372; sitelink_count: 33. - Four Great Classical Novels: the parent grouping to which Water Margin belongs; sitelink_count: 44. - Yuan dynasty: related historical entity; inception +1271-01-01T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 99. - Ming dynasty: related historical entity; inception +1368-00-00T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 132. - Genre/class nodes in source: adventure fiction (sitelink_count: 27), historical fiction (sitelink_count: 30), literary work (sitelink_count: 20). ### Containment / Subsidiaries - The provided relationships list Four Great Classical Novels both as a parent and as a contained/subsidiary entity in different parts of the structured input; in the data context, Water Margin is identified with that set of four novels and is treated as a member of that canonical group (sitelink_count: 44). ### Data Identifiers and Limits - The record includes structured identifiers and counts (e.g., sitelink_count values) for Water Margin and several related entities. - The source material does not provide plot details, chapter counts, edition histories, or textual variants; only the attributes and relationships summarized above are included in this entry. ## References 1. Source 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Opowiesci-znad-brzegow-rzek;3951399.html)