During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, officialdom oppressed the populace and put the squeeze on them; the people were angry but did not dare to speak out. This state of affairs finally led to the formation of a group of 108 heroic bandits who played a role very similar to that of Robin Hood, dispensing justice for the people as if acting on heavenly command.
在元明兩代，官府壓搾百姓，庶民敢怒不敢言之下，遂演化出梁山泊一百零八條好漢，羅賓漢式的替天行道、為民伸張正義。