Introduction to the Four Great Books of the Ming Dynasty

Answer 1

The Four Great Wonders of the Ming Dynasty referred to the four classical Chinese novels, Dream of the Red Chamber, Journey to the West, Water Margins, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which were hailed as classics in the history of Chinese literature.

"Dream of the Red Chamber" was a Qing Dynasty novel that described the lives and love experiences of the main characters such as Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu in the feudal society. It depicted an illusory and rich world, showing the richness of human nature. The plot of the novel is complicated, the characters are full, and the language is beautiful. It is regarded as a masterpiece in the history of Chinese novels.

Journey to the West was a Ming Dynasty story about Sun Wukong and the other main characters who helped Tang Sanzang go to the West to obtain scriptures. The novel depicted the powerful Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Monk Sand fighting against the evil forces. At the same time, it also showed the classic elements of ancient Chinese myths and legends.

The Water Margins was a story of 108 righteous men gathering at Liangshan Lake in the Ming Dynasty. The characters in the novel vividly showed the dark side of ancient Chinese society and the suffering of the people. It also showed the spirit of advocating righteous men and heroes in traditional Chinese culture.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms was a story about the war and political struggle between Shu Han, Wu, and Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. The novel depicted the images of historical figures and events of the Three Kingdoms, showing the complexity and variety of political struggles in ancient China.

These four novels were all classics in the history of Chinese literature, which were widely read and had a profound impact on later literature and art.