The four classical novels refer to the four classical novels, China's classical novels, referred to as the four classical novels for short. According to this book, The Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The Journey to the West and A Dream of Red Mansions were all written by Shi Naian, Luo Guanzhong, Wu Cheng'en and Cao Xueqin.
The Water Margin is based on the rebel army led by Song Jiang. Through a series of vivid stories of Liangshan heroes' resistance to oppression and heroic struggle, the decay and cruelty of the ruling class in the late Northern Song Dynasty were exposed, and the sharp social contradictions and the cruel reality of "officials forcing the people to rebel" at that time were exposed.
The story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms begins with the Yellow Scarf Uprising and ends with Sima's destruction of Wu Jinkai. It mainly describes the war, reflects the political and military struggle between Wei, Wu, shows the historical situation of nearly a hundred years at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Western Jin Dynasty, and successfully created a group of heroes.
The Journey to the West told the story of the Monkey King's birth, which turned it upside down. After that, he wrote the story of the Monkey King following the Tang Priest to learn Buddhist scriptures and exorcising demons and overcoming difficulties along the way.
A Dream of Red Mansions focuses on the emotional entanglements among Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai, and tells the people and events that happened in the feudal family of a fictional dynasty. Through the description of some daily events, taking the twelve women in Jinling as the main body, it reflects the love and hate of all women in Jiafu Grand View Garden.
Four Great Classical Novels is a classic in the history of China literature and a precious cultural heritage in the world.
These four masterpieces are inseparable in the history of China literature, and they all have high literary level and artistic achievements. The detailed description and profound thoughts contained in it have been praised by readers of all ages, and the stories, scenes and characters in it have deeply influenced the concepts and values of China people. It can be described as four monuments in the history of China literature.