The Outlaws of the Marsh
Chinese Martial Literature

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"The Outlaws of the Marsh" is a classical masterpiece of China, known to every Chinese school child.  It is world famous for its beauty and prose, telling the story of 108 characters - all kind-hearted outlaws - who fight for the people's rights against the corrupted government.  

There are plenty of Internet websites available about this masterpiece, but it has never before been shown on stamps, so I am proud to show here for the first time on the Internet the full series, appeared over a period of 10 years, together with the corresponding souvenir sheets.  The stamps and sheets are all illustrations to the story, and are beautifully painted by contemporary, anonymous Chinese painters.  

Below I have given just a short description to the individual stamps, quoted from Stanley Gibbons Simplified 2001.  The souvenir sheets show a conglomeration of the stories told on stamps.  If you are interested in knowing more, I warmly recommend you to visit the link provided at the bottom of this page, giving more information about The Outlaws of the Marsh.  You will find the full story as well as a full description of all the heroes, their characteristics and weapons.  

• China 1987.  The Outlaws of the Marsh, 1st series.

  • Shi Jin practising Martial Arts.
  • Sagacious Lu oprooting willow tree.
  • Lin Chon sheltering in temple of mountain spirit.
  • Song Jian helping Chao Gai to escape. 
  • Souvenir sheet.

• China 1989.  The Outlaws of the Marsh, 2nd series. (No souvenir sheet was issued in the second series). 

  • Wu Song killing tiger on Yingyang Ridge.
  • Qin Ming riding through hail of arrows.
  • Hua Rong shooting wild goose.
  • Li Kui fighting Zhang Shun on sampan.

• China 1991.  The Outlaws of the Marsh, 3rd series. 

  • Dai Zong delivers forged letter from Liangshan Marsh.
  • Zhanquing captures Stumpy Tiger Wang.
  • Mistress Gu rescues Xie brothers from Dengzhou jail.
  • Sun Li gains entrance to Zhu family manor in guise of military magistrate. 
  • Souvenir sheet. 

• China 1993.  The Outlaws of the Marsh, 4th series. (No souvenir sheet was issued in the fourth series). 

  • Yin Tianxi and gang capturing Chai Jin.
  • Shi Qian stealing Xu Ning's armour.
  • Xu Ning teaching use of barbed lance.
  • Shi Xiu saving Lu Junyi from execution.

• China 1997.  The Outlaws of the Marsh, 5th series.

  • Hu Yanzhuo tricks Guan Sheng.
  • Lu Junyi captures Shi Wengong.
  • Yan Qing wrestles with Qing Tianchu.
  • Hong Tianlei defeats government troops. 
  • Souvenir sheet. 

Sources and links:

• Microsoft Encarta 2002. 
• More information about The Outlaws of the Marsh 

Many thanks to Didier Maistre (France) and Annick Le Gall (France) for all help and research.  

More Chinese Arts on this site:

• The Terracotta Army (Sculptors)
• Dunhuang Cave Murals (Oriental Art)

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