Classic Chinese Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels (Chinese: 四大名著; pinyin: sì dà míng zhù) of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers. They are not to be confused with the Four Books of Confucianism.
They are among the world's longest (some consist of over 120 chapters) and oldest novels[1] and are considered to be the pinnacle of China's achievement in classical novels, influencing the creation of many stories, theater, movies, games, and other entertainment throughout East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Works
In chronological order, they are:
| English | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Margin | 水浒传 | 水滸傳 | Shuǐ hǔ zhuàn | 14th century |
| Romance of the Three Kingdoms | 三国演义 | 三國演義 | Sān guó yǎnyì | 14th century |
| Journey to the West | 西游记 | 西遊記 | Xī yóu jì | 16th century |
| Dream of the Red Chamber | 红楼梦 | 紅樓夢 | Hóng lóu mèng | 18th century |
History
The original concept of the Four Great Classical Novels (simplified Chinese: 四大奇书; traditional Chinese: 四大奇書) was already established by the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Li Yu, in an introduction to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, noted that Feng Menglong's description of the Four Great Classical Novels included Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, and The Plum in the Golden Vase (or Golden Lotus).
After the publication of Dream of the Red Chamber, a new concept of the Four Great Classical Novels (Chinese: 四大名著; pinyin: sì dà míng zhù) was created, replacing The Plum in the Golden Vase with Dream of the Red Chamber.
Influences
The four novels were highly influential in the development of vernacular works in Chinese literary history.[2] Traditionally, fiction and drama were not held in "high esteem" in the Chinese or East Asian literary hierarchy,[3] and they were generally not seen as true "literature" by scholars.[1] Writers of these mediums would not have the same level of "prestige" as poets or scholars of Chinese classics would have had.[2]
All four of the novels were written in a style that is a mixture of Classical and vernacular Chinese,[1] with some that are more completely vernacular than the others.[4] For instance, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is known for its mix of classical prose with folklore and popular narratives,[5] while the Dream of the Red Chamber is known for the use of poetry within its mostly vernacular style. These four novels are thought to have popularized, and more importantly "legitimatized" the role of vernacular literature among the literary circles of China.[3]
The "Fifth" Great Classical Novel
Because of its explicit descriptions of sex, The Plum in the Golden Vase has been banned for most of its existence. Despite this, some scholars and writers, including Lu Xun, place it among the top Chinese novels. Among literary scholars, the novel is still highly regarded.
References
- ^ a b c John Day (Nov. 20, 1939). "Books: Big Little Talk". Time Magazine.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Institute of Advanced Studies. East Asian history, Issues 32-33. Australian National University. p. 15.
- ^ a b Literature in East Asia
- ^ Anne Elizabeth McLaren (1998). Chinese popular culture and Ming chantefables. Brill. p. 4. ISBN 90-04-10998-6.
- ^ Dale, Corinne H. (2004). Chinese aesthetics and literature: a reader. SUNY Press. p. 110. ISBN 0-7914-6021-5.