108 Stars of Destiny
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The 108 Stars of Destiny (天導一百零八星) are at the core of the plot of the Chinese classic Shui Hu Zhuan (水滸傳), commonly translated as Water Margin, Outlaws of the Marsh, or All Men Are Brothers, edited by Shi Nai'an (施耐庵) and Luo Guanzhong (羅貫中) during the 13th century and 14th century. Suikoden (水滸伝) is a Japanese translation for Shui Hu Zhuan which has been made into a series of role-playing games.
[edit] Concept of 108 Stars of Destiny
Based on the Daoist concept that each person's destiny is tied to a Star of Destiny (宿星), the 108 Stars of Destiny are stars that represent 108 demonic overlords who have been banished by the Daoist sage, Shang Ti. 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.
The 108 Stars of Destiny are translated into the 36 Stars of Heaven and the 72 Stars of Earth. Other titles for the Stars of Destiny include The 108 Stars of Heavenly Earth and The 108 Stars of Heaven and Earth.
[edit] The 108 heroes in Water Margin
[edit] The Suikoden Video Games
This concept has been borrowed for the 108 characters you recruit in each game of Suikoden, a role-playing game series on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. Similar to the novel, Suikoden's characters band together to stop a rising evil.
