The 108 Stars of Destiny (Chinese: 一百零八星; pinyin: Yī Bǎi Líng Bā Xīng) are at the core of the plot of Water Margin. Based on the Taoist concept that each person's destiny is tied to a Star of Destiny (Chinese: 宿星; pinyin: Sùxīng), the 108 Stars of Destiny are stars that represent 108 demonic overlords who have been banished by the Taoist sage Shangdi. Having repented since their banishment, the Stars are released from their place of banishment by accident, and are reborn in the world as 108 heroes who band together for the cause of justice.
Read more about this topic: List Of Water Margin Minor Characters
Famous quotes containing the words stars and/or destiny:
“With a tongue like a razor he will kiss,
the mother, the child,
and we three will color the stars black
in memory of his mother
who kept him chained to the food tree
or turned him on and off like a water faucet....”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“With a little more deliberation in the choice of their pursuits, all men would perhaps become essentially students and observers, for certainly their nature and destiny are interesting to all alike.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)