108 Heroes

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by AxelBoldt (talk | contribs) at 19:14, 15 November 2005. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The 108 Stars of Destiny is at the core of the plot of the Chinese classic Shui Hu Zhuan (水滸博), 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 and 14th centuries. 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.

Suikoden (水滸伝) is a Japanese translation for Shui Hu Zhuan.

This concept has been borrowed for the 108 characters you recruit in each game of the Suikoden videogame series. Similar to the novel, Suikoden's characters band together to stop a rising evil. Evidently, there is something special about the 108 Stars of Destiny as their gathering brings forth a miracle strong enough to change the course of destiny (a recurring theme in the Suikoden series).

  • In Suikoden 1, the combined will of the 108 Stars of Destiny manages to bring back the dead.
  • In Suikoden 2, the combined will of the 108 Stars of Destiny unlockes the forth spell of the Bright Shielf Rune, the Forgiver Sign.
  • In Suikoden 3, the combined will of the 108 Stars of Destiny unlocks a 6th point of view (your enemy's perspective).
  • In Suikoden 4, it is by their power that the Rune of Punishment ended it's punishment phase and moved into its forgiveness phase.