The four stages of the development of ancient Chinese novels can be referred to the following answers: 1. The Hundred Schools of Thought's novels: During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the thoughts and academic opinions of the Hundred Schools of Thought influenced the development of novels. The novels of this period were mainly argumentative essays and essays such as The Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Mozi, etc. 2. Taoist, Confucian, and Mohist novels: During the Qin and Han Dynasties, novels from Taoist, Confucian, and Mohist schools also began to appear. Such as "Records of the Historian,""Han Shu" and so on. 3. Mythological novels: During the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, novels based on mythological stories appeared, such as Classic of Mountains and Seas and Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. 4. Narrated novels: After the Tang Dynasty, narrative novels gradually developed, such as the Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Song of the Pipa, etc. In the Song Dynasty, Water Margins, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, etc. Each of these novels had its own characteristics, reflecting the social style and people's lives in different cultures and historical periods.