Epic romps with a healthy dose of historical reference, the Four Great Classics of Chinese Literature are also cornerstones for the development of the Chinese vernacular, noted for experimenting with classical and less formal language structures. Forget your boring Western beginning, middle and end stories too, old-school Chinese literature opts for characters galore and several arcs and falls.
Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦), is one of the Four Great Classics. Scholars, artists and the girls go cock-a-hoop for this one. Alternately known as The Story of the Stone, it chronicles the rise and fall of the great Jia family, felled by its own missteps and greed. Popular for its use of colloquial language (unusual for the times), it also helps that all the female characters are incredibly glamorous and talk about clothing. A lot.
A scene from the novel. Image via Wikimedia Commons
Within the household there are 12 great beauties, each noted not only for their fair faces, but their refined minds. One of the first books to go into loving detail about the trials, vanities and tribulations of ladies in an aristocratic household, the first 80 chapters are attributed to genuine blue-blood Cao Xueqin. He died before the story’s completion, so writing team Gao E and Cheng Weiyuan added another 40 chapters before publishing the work in 1791.
Expect more than 100 years of history chronicling fall of the Han Dynasty and rise of the Three Kingdoms, with a little mysticism thrown into the mix.
Notable Characters
Jia Baoyu 贾宝玉
Previously a heavenly spirit before being reincarnated as a human and born with a piece of magical jade in his mouth, the main male protagonist in this female-dominated story is mischievous, insightful and incredibly clever, but despises authority and is often scolded for scoffing in the face of traditional feudal values (stick it to The Man, brother!) Jia is in love with Lin Daiyu, but destined to marry Xue Baochai.
Lin Daiyu 林黛玉
While a heavenly spirit, Jia Baoyu watered a flower fairy every day with dew (the big ponce). The fairy then vows to follow him to earth and repay the kindness with tears (because guys love a chicks that cries?!) Lin Daiyu is the embodiment of this delicate bloom, one of the story’s 12 great beauties and a celebrated poet, so sensitive that she composes odes and builds graves for fallen flowers (pass the sick bucket…)
Xue Baochai 薛宝钗
The opposite of Lin in almost every way, Xue is the embodiment of a Chinese feudal maiden: beautiful, sensible and knows the rules. The family has chosen her as the destined wife of Jia, but it seems he is a sucker for a soppy crybaby (okay, so she’s smart and entrancing), so they’re forced to play a trick to get him to do so. A cruel one. Backfires: Lin dies, Jia goes insane and becomes a monk and Xue is left husbandless.
English Adaptation
You can now order one of China's greatest masterpieces in English. Published by China Intercontinental Press, the English edition of Dream of the Red Chamber is a must-have book for ancient Chinese history nerds and literature enthusiasts alike. Order a copy of this classic romance on thMart right now for RMB88.
Plus, we’ve got a special gift for our readers! From January 26 to February 28, we are giving away a free set of postcards (20 pcs/set) for every book purchase over RMB199. Together there are four sets of gorgeous postcards for you to choose from. Just leave a message upon checkout to specify the theme you want. (Please note that due to the Spring Festival holiday period, delivery will start from February 15).
Click here to see more books from China Intercontinental Press.
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