006 / 108The road through the snowPanther Head
Lin Chong林冲
Snow crushes his shelter. Fire takes his post. At a temple door, he hears who wanted him dead.
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WATER MARGIN · THE COMPLETE 108-CARD COLLECTION108 outlaws.
108 outlaws.
One legendary
collection.
An illustrated Chinese classic, made to hold.
Collect 108 lives. Find a story that stays with you.
THEY WERE HUMAN.
CONCEPT PREVIEW · NO PAYMENT TODAY
A WHOLE WORLD, WITHIN REACHOne box.
One box.
All 108 lives.
Some you’ll admire. Some you’ll question. A few may feel unexpectedly familiar.
The idea is to bring the entire Liangshan brotherhood together: 108 illustrated story cards to explore at your own pace, keep close, and share with someone curious.
- 108 distinct characters
- One complete set, with a place for every outlaw.
- Art, story, and a question
- A short English introduction, with a longer story to explore online.
- 63 × 88 mm
- A familiar card size. A small invitation to slow down.
01 / COLLECT
See the whole brotherhood.
Lay the characters side by side. Follow friendships, conflicting loyalties, and very different paths to the same mountain. The pleasure is in seeing all 108 together.
02 / READ
A little reading ritual.
Choose a card when you have a few quiet minutes. Look at the scene, meet the person, and read their turning point. No need to begin a long novel to make a first connection.
03 / RETURN
Keep the question with you.
A card can become a bookmark, a conversation, or a story you come back to when life feels different. The artwork draws you in; the person gives you a reason to stay.
LIN CHONG · 林冲 · 006 / 108BEFORE THEY WERE OUTLAWS, THEY WERE HUMANYou might recognize
You might recognize
the feeling.
You don’t need to have lived in ancient China to know what it feels like to endure unfairness, stand up for someone, or wonder whether anger has gone too far.
Meet the man who checks a fire before seeking shelter. The friend who follows a prisoner into the forest. The woman who wins a fight and still cannot choose her future. These are the people inside Water Margin’s legends.
A TASTE OF THE PLANNED CARD STORIES · ORIGINAL RETELLING
Lin Chong · Panther Head
Snow crushes Lin Chong’s shelter. Before leaving, he checks that his brazier cannot start a fire. At a nearby temple, he sees the depot burn—and hears an old acquaintance outside the door explain the plan to kill him. He has kept doing his duty. His enemies have kept following him.
When does patienceRead Lin Chong’s full story
become surrender?
- 01
Interest & feedback
Explore the concept and tell us what would make it worth owning. This is the current stage.
- 02
Feasibility & pricing
Work through manufacturing and fulfilment costs, refine the designs, and decide whether a launch is viable.
- 03
A possible preorder
If we move forward, share the price, production plan, delivery estimates, and terms before taking orders.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOWBefore you
Before you
join the story.
What exactly is the collection?
The plan is one complete boxed set of 108 illustrated character cards, each 63 × 88 mm: the familiar size of a poker card. These are collectible story cards, rather than a standard playing-card deck. The artwork and packaging shown here are concept previews; final materials and designs are still to be decided.
Why own the cards when the stories are online?
The website is a free way to discover the people and read further. The physical collection is intended to bring all 108 together as illustrated objects you can hold, arrange, compare, and return to. A short English story and a question on each card would make it possible to enjoy a small part of the novel away from a screen.
Do I need to know Water Margin already?
No. The collection is being developed for curious English-speaking readers as well as people who already love the novel. Start with a character that catches your eye, or read our beginner’s guide to Water Margin.
Can I order it now?
We’re gathering interest and feedback first. There is no checkout or payment today. Manufacturing costs, price, preorder terms, and delivery estimates have not been confirmed. If the project becomes viable, we’ll share a clear plan before asking anyone to order.
What happens when I leave my email?
Your email and thoughts are saved privately. We’ll use your email to share progress on this collection and any future pricing or preorder announcement. Your feedback helps us understand what you’d want to own. No account is needed, and expressing interest does not commit you to buying.
MEET THE OUTLAWSFifteen lives.
Fifteen lives.
A hundred stories between them.
A warning ignored. A guest protected. A home lost. Choose a scene that catches your eye, then follow the person beyond it. These fifteen stories begin the planned 108-card collection.
Explore the story library006 / 108The road through the snow
001 / 108Lanterns on the riverTimely Rain
Song Jiang宋江
His help opens doors across the country. As a leader, he must decide where all those grateful people will go.
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003 / 108Plans by candlelightThe Resourceful Star
Wu Yong吴用
A wine seller, thirsty guards, and an apparently harmless drink. His best weapon is what people believe they have seen.
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013 / 108Wind through the willowsFlower Monk
Lu Zhishen鲁智深
He helps a father and daughter escape, then kills their tormentor. A monk’s robe cannot make him an orderly man.
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014 / 108Beyond the forest pathTiger Slayer
Wu Song武松
He ignores a warning, breaks his staff, and survives a tiger. The brother waiting at home will be harder to protect.
Read the story
009 / 108An arrow in the windLittle Li Guang
Hua Rong花荣
An archer defends a falsely accused friend. A meeting meant to settle the quarrel becomes another trap.
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002 / 108The courtyard at duskJade Qilin
Lu Junyi卢俊义
Liangshan wants a wealthy fighter who will not join. A false prophecy sends him away; betrayal shuts him out of his home.
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004 / 108Where the mountain breathesDragon in the Clouds
Gongsun Sheng公孙胜
Ordinary weapons fail at Gaotangzhou. The man who can help has gone home to his mother and teacher.
Read the story
010 / 108Petals in the manor gardenLittle Whirlwind
Chai Jin柴进
He shelters fugitives under an inherited promise of protection. When that promise fails, his guests must come for him.
Read the story
017 / 108Rain on a lonely roadBlue-Faced Beast
Yang Zhi杨志
A guarded convoy stops on a blistering road. He has protected against thieves, but lost the trust of the men beside him.
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018 / 108Autumn in the training courtGolden Lancer
Xu Ning徐宁
Stolen armor draws him from the capital. When he reaches Liangshan, even his name has been used to block the way home.
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022 / 108Dust before the stormBlack Whirlwind
Li Kui李逵
His axes help save Song Jiang from execution. His loyalty leaves other people grieving, including those inside Liangshan.
Read the story
036 / 108A song beside the waterThe Wanderer
Yan Qing燕青
He sees the trap before his master does. Driven from the house, he returns with a crossbow when the warning comes true.
Read the story
059 / 108The red sash in the windTen Feet of Blue
Hu Sanniang扈三娘
She rides into battle with two blades and takes a prisoner. After her own capture, other people decide her future.
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103 / 108The inn after nightfallThe Female Yaksha
Sun Erniang孙二娘
The inn promises food and rest. A suspicious traveler stays awake long enough to discover what that welcome conceals.
Read the storyFIFTEEN INTRODUCTIONS.ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT LIVES TO DISCOVER.
THE READING ROOM
All reading guides A way into the world.
01
START WITH THE BOOK
02What Is Water Margin?
An instructor loses his home. An officer becomes a troublesome monk. A traveler meets a tiger. Their roads lead to the same refuge—and to people they would never have met in ordinary life.
THE PEOPLE OF LIANGSHAN
03Who Are the 108 Heroes of Liangshan?
A clerk leads them. A teacher plans their campaigns. Boatmen, innkeepers, officers, and three women join the company. The famous number holds much more than an army of fighters.
A TURNING POINT, EXPLAINED
04Why Did Lin Chong Become an Outlaw?
He is driven to Liangshan through a series of closed exits: staying quiet, accepting exile, doing his assigned work. None keeps him safe from the men who want him gone.
BEYOND THE FAMOUS FEAT
Wu Song and the Tiger
The best-known image is the fist striking the tiger. The scene begins much earlier—with wine, a warning, and a traveler who does not want to admit he was wrong.
A COLLECTION IN THE MAKINGWhich story would
Which story would
you want to keep?
Tell us what makes this collection worth owning to you.
Leave your email for progress, pricing, and any future preorder news.