Why were those four novels called the Four Great Classics?
The Four Great Classics referred to the four works of Chinese classical novels, namely Dream of the Red Chamber, Journey to the West, Water Margins, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. These four works had a very high status in Chinese culture and were regarded as one of the classic literary works. "Dream of the Red Chamber" was regarded as the pinnacle of Chinese novel history. It described the style of the aristocratic society of the Qing Dynasty and the relationships between the characters, showing rich social and cultural values. Journey to the West, on the other hand, tells the story of Xuanzang, a monk of the Tang Dynasty, bringing his three disciples to the Western Paradise. It is considered one of the most famous narrative novels in the history of Chinese literature. The fantastic plot and magnificent artistic expression described by it are also widely praised. Water Margins, on the other hand, described the life and struggle of a group of righteous thieves at the end of the Song Dynasty. It showed the complexity of human nature and the interweaving of violence and tenderness. It was a classic in the history of Chinese novels. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, on the other hand, narrated the historical story of the Three Kingdoms period, describing the political struggles and military wars between Wei, Shu and Wu. It was one of the most representative historical novels in the history of Chinese literature and had a profound impact on Chinese culture. The reason why these four works were called the Four Masterpieces was because they had a very high status and influence in Chinese culture. They not only represented the peak of ancient Chinese novels, but also had a profound impact on later literature and art.