The Great Classical Novels

The Great Classical Novels     

     
Do you know the great classical novels of Chinese literature? They are "Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, “Journey to the West”, “Dream of the Red Chamber”. These four novels are commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction.

The Water Margin

One knows the North Song Dynasty (14th Century) lived its apogee and declined, a victim of corruption and decadence. One knows this story is based on real facts and has inspired many storytellers. One finds historical traces of outlaws who challenged the imperial authority and died under the executioner's blade. At last, as anyone knows today Homer wrote the Iliad and Odyssey, no one doubts anymore that a man called Shi Nai-an wrote during the 14th century the novel, Outlaws of the Marsh that reached us. Everyone recognizes that Jin Sheng-tan, during the 14thth century, published what is now as famous as the original version of a novel that obtained the interest and infatuation of successive generations.

Water Margin or Outlaws of the Marsh is an immortal novel because its tale is universal: it speaks of beings (outlaws but also nobles, strong muscled heroes but also intellectuals, anarchists but also philosophers.) who cannot bear injustice nor abuse nor arbitrariness. The universality is the reason novels are immortal and their popularity has lasted for centuries. Discover the 108 heroes,  the episodes,  the paper-cuts representing them, the Beijing operas their fighting exploits inspired. 

Romance of The Three Kingdoms

Romance of The Three Kingdoms is one of the great Chinese classics and was compiled into a semi-fictional literary masterpiece during the Ming Dynasty by Luo Guanzhong. The novel comprises around 70% fact and 20% fiction. Some issues such as Guan Yu's weapon weighing around 40kilograms, the capabilities of Lu Bu, Liu Bei's horses as well as the existence of the Hill of the Fallen Phoenix and some others are probably fictional.
That period in history can be referred as the golden age of chivalry and although it happened more than 1700 years ago, characters such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang have become household names among the Chinese. Tales of their exploits, courage, adventures and many more are told in the novel Romance of The Three Kingdoms.
This novel portrays is one of the most turbulent periods in China's history taking place toward the end of the Han Dynasty where corruption is rampant in the imperial court due to a eunuch’s holding power. Coupled with natural disasters such as floods, plague and locust swarms devouring the crops grown by the peasants, hunger and dissatisfactory among the peasants soon escalated rapidly until a major rebellion known as the "Yellow Scarves Rebellion" led by Zhang Jiao broke out. Initially just a small band of rebels, but due to widespread hunger and ill-sentiment among the populace, swarms of common folks joined in the rebellion across many parts of the country.