Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness

　　The Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness was originally called the Hall of Gathering Righteousness. After Chao Gai was fatally shot in Zengjianshi, Song Jiang became the leader of the stronghold. He then renamed the Hall of Gathering Righteousness to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness and raised a large banner reading “Acting on Heaven’s Behalf” in front of the hall.

　　In the courtyard of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, a vermilion flagpole stands in the center, from which hangs a yellow flag bearing four bold black characters: “Acting on Heaven’s Behalf.” On either side of the platform in front of the hall, there are two large pink flags — the one on the east reads “Protector of Shandong,” while the one on the west displays “Jade Unicorn of Hebei,” symbolizing the gathering of heroes here. The carved couplet on the pillars of the hall’s entrance features gold characters on a red background: “Ever loyal and righteous, never greedy or oppressive to the people.” This is a later tribute to the heroes of Liangshan.

　　On the silk screen inside the main hall of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, scenes of the old Liangshan Marsh are depicted. Lifelike painted statues of the three leaders — Song Jiang, Lu Junyi, and Wu Yong — sit in the center of the hall, flanked by tables, chairs, wine jars, and large black bowls used during the heroes’ seating arrangement ceremony.

　　The most eye-catching feature is the large ceramic murals on the east, west, and north walls titled “Gathering of Heroes at Liangshan Marsh.” The murals are grand and majestic, exuding extraordinary spirit. They depict Wu Song battling a tiger at Jingyang Ridge, the wandering monk Lu Zhishen, and the nimble thief Shi Qian peeking out from a corner. All 108 heroes gather at the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. Some are clever, some rough, some simple, some romantic — none hinder the others, truly living in harmony according to their nature. Here, they display their various skills — some with brush, some with blade or spear, some galloping, some scheming — each excelling in their own way, truly making the best use of their talents.

　　In the east and west wing rooms in front of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, there are life-size painted clay statues of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, each with vivid expressions and distinct personalities. A common trait among them is their fierce, wide-eyed gaze, as if harboring deep-seated grudges yet to be avenged.