The Water Margin

Set in the mid Song Dynasty, The Water Margin follows the lives of 108 outlaws who gather at Liangshan Marsh. Each episode traces how ordinary men and women, from displaced soldiers to wronged officials, are driven into outlaw bands by injustice, poverty, or fate. They form complicated bonds, clash with local powers, and plan raids that unsettle the ruling class. The series balances battlefield action, courtroom intrigue, and intimate moments among the outlaws, showing how loyalties shift and ideals are tested. Political corruption and shifting alliances provide constant pressure on the outlaws, and the show keeps the novel's major episodes in view without revealing their final outcomes.

First broadcast in 1998 and directed by Zhang Shaolin, The Water Margin was created by Ran Ping, Zhengguang Yang, and Ming Yi, and it's an adaptation of the classic novel Shui Hu Zhuan.

By bringing a foundational Ming dynasty tale to 1990s television, the show renewed interest in those legendary characters and scenes. Its portrayals of brotherhood, strategy, and rebellion influenced later period dramas and kept many Water Margin figures in popular storytelling. It also contributed to renewed adaptations in later decades.

Audience response has been strong, reflected in a 9.1/10 user rating from a small sample of 19 votes. Critics and viewers have praised its ensemble cast and clear focus on themes like loyalty, justice, honor, and the moral cost of resistance. Viewers often note the production values and fight choreography.

There are no widely reported major international awards for this 1998 adaptation, and records of domestic prizes are limited. The series seems to have earned its reputation more through audience memory and repeated broadcasts than through formal accolades. Any domestic recognition tends to be regional and not widely documented online.