The four stages of the development of ancient Chinese novels can be referred to the following examples: 1. Pre-Qin period (11th century B.C. -21st century B.C.): The novels of this period were mainly narrations such as Spring and Autumn Annals and Zuo Zhuan. 2. Qin and Han Dynasties (21st century B.C. -220A.D.): The novels of this period were mainly argumentative articles and Fu such as Records of the Historian and Han Shu. 3. Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties (220 - 589): The novels of this period were mainly strange stories and legendary novels such as Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio, Water Margins, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, etc. 4. Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (589 - 1911): The novels of this period reached their peak, mainly based on narrative literature such as "Dream of the Red Chamber","Journey to the West","Water Margins","Romance of the Three Kingdoms", etc.