Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Romance of Three Kingdoms are called The Four Great Classical Novels, which are cornerstones of classical Chinese literature. They have attracted and delighted readers for centuries. They are must-reads for scholars, and anyone who wants to better understand Chinese culture and language.
Journey to the West takes us on a magical trip. It tells about a Buddhist monk Xuanzang who goes on his journey from China to central Asia and India. Although faced with many challenges, Xuanzang and his three protectors, including the most famous of all, Monkey King, succeed. The book has been made into many movies and TV series.
Outlaws of the Marsh was written by Shi Nai’an in the 14th Century. It is about 108 outlaws (草莽英雄) who team up to fight against cruel rulers and injustice. They became like brothers, fighting for what’s right. Their bravery and friendship inspire us to stand up for what we believe in. The special book was written in vernacular Chinese (白话文), rather than classical.
Dream of the Red Chamber was written by Cao Xueqin. It is believed to be a story mirrors the fortunes of Cao’s own family. The novel not only involves a huge cast of characters, but also gives a great insight into people’s feelings. It is also a great historical record, which shows us about the social structures of 18th-century China and what life was like for rich families in China during that time.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese historical novel. It takes place at the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdom’s era, in which there is a lot of change, confusion, and disorder. It tells about hundreds of different characters, but mainly focuses on the three big ones, which eventually became the states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. This book is full of plot twists and turns, tricks and battles.
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