试谈《水浒传》一百零八人的身份问题

On the Identity of 108 Characters in Water Margin

一百零八人的身份问题,应当是《水浒传》研究中的一个基本问题。身份和出身、职业、成分有关,但它们之间又有本质的不同。《水浒传》中一百零八人的身份不是单一的农民,亦不是纯粹的市民,也不尽然都是游民或流民,更不可能都是什么流氓。他们是一群武士,一群来自各行各业的武士。武士的基本元素包括:武器、武艺、武略、武胆、武德,而其最本质、最灵魂的属性当是血性。

The question about identity of 108 characters should be a basic question in the study of Water Margin.Identity is related to origin,occupation and composition but there are essential differences between them.The 108 characters in Water Margin are not pure farmers or pure citizens.Not all of them are vagrants or refugees,let alone rogues.They are a group of knights from all walks of life.The basic elements of knights include weapons,martial arts,military strategies,military courage and morality,and the most essential and spiritual attribute of knights are courage and uprightness.