Four classic novels

The four classical novels ( Chinese  四大 名著 , Pinyin sì dà míngzhù  - "the four famous works") of Chinese literature are:

• the Sānguó Yǎnyì ( 三國 演義  /  三国 演义 ), around 1390 ( The Story of the Three Kingdoms ) by Luo Guanzhong
• the Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn ( 水滸傳  /  水浒传 ), around 1573 ( The robbers of the Liang-Schan-Moor ) by Shi Nai'an or Luo Guanzhong
• the Xīyóujì ( 西遊記  /  西游记 ), 1590 ( The Journey to the West ) by Wu Cheng'en
• das Hónglóumèng ( 紅樓夢  /  红楼梦 ), around 1750 to 1792 ( The Dream of the Red Chamber ) by Cao Xueqin

They are supplemented by another work that was originally part of the list, but was replaced by the Hónglóumèng during the 19th century :

• das Jīnpíngméi ( 金瓶梅 ), around 1596 to 1610 ( The plum blossom in the golden vase ) by an unknown author

The Jīnpíngméi is often referred to as the "fifth classic novel" despite its displacement from the canon of the four classics.

See also: Roman (China)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Haiwang Yuan: The Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales from the Han Chinese . Libraries Unlimited, 2006, ISBN 9781591582946 , p. 27 ( excerpt (Google) )