Originally
绿林 (Lùlín) was a real place in modern Hubei, where peasants rose against the usurper Wang Mang (
王莽) in 17 CE — the Lülin Rebellion that helped end the short-lived Xin dynasty. By extension,
绿林 came to mean 'forest where outlaws hide', and
绿林好汉 'greenwood heroes' became the standard term for Robin Hood-style bandits in Chinese literature, especially in 《
水浒传》(Outlaws of the Marsh).
