Well, one of the three great Chinese novels is 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. It's a historical epic that vividly depicts the power struggles and heroic deeds during the Three Kingdoms period. Another is 'Water Margin', which tells the story of a group of outlaws and their adventures. And 'Journey to the West' is also among them, following the adventures of the Monkey King and his companions on their journey to the West for Buddhist scriptures.
The three great myths of Chinese mythology were:
1. Pangu created the world: Legend has it that Pangu was born in chaos and used an axe to cut open the world to create the world. His body continued to grow until it turned into mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. His hair turned into stars. This myth was widely spread in China and was considered one of the earliest myths in China.
2. Nüwa mends the sky: Legend has it that Nüwa used the Multicolored Stone to repair the sky so that the sun and moon would no longer fall. She created humans and saved some animals. This mythical story was spread in China and other Asian countries.
Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs: Legend has it that Shennong was the ancestor of agriculture and medicine. He tasted all kinds of herbs and learned how to plant and make medicines. The herbal treatments he invented were widely used in human health care. This mythical story was also considered an important part of Chinese mythology regarding technology and medicine.
Well, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is a long and complex novel that shows the rise and fall of different kingdoms. It has many well - known characters and strategic battles. 'Water Margin' tells the story of 108 heroes who gather at Liangshan Marsh. They have their own reasons for becoming outlaws. 'Journey to the West' is a classic tale of the Monkey King and his team's journey to the West. They face numerous difficulties and monsters along the way, and it also has deep religious and cultural connotations.
The complex characters make it great. There are many well - developed characters like Zhuge Liang, who is extremely intelligent and strategizes for his lord. Each character has their own motives, strengths, and weaknesses, which makes the story rich.
The three great literary masterpieces in Chinese history were Dream of the Red Chamber, Journey to the West, and Water Margins.
'Dream of the Red Chamber' was a Qing Dynasty story that described the love story of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and others, as well as the decline of feudal society and the complexity of human nature. It was a classic in the history of Chinese literature and was known as the "crown of Chinese novels".
Journey to the West was a mythical novel written by Wu Chengen, a novelist of the Ming Dynasty. It told the story of Sun Wukong and the others protecting Tang Sanzang to obtain the scriptures. It became one of the representative works of Chinese mythological novels with its fantastic plot, rich imagination and outstanding artistic expression.
The Water Margins was a novel written by Shi Naian, a novelist of the Ming Dynasty. It described the uprising of 108 Liangshan heroes and their struggle with the government. It has become a classic in the history of Chinese novels with its profound social meaning, excellent narrative ability and vivid characters.
The "three" in Chinese classical novels usually referred to three important characters or plots:
1. Three visits to the thatched cottage: refers to the three visits to the thatched cottage that led to Zhuge Liang, the wise man, to help Liu Bei establish the Shu Han regime.
2. The Three Ends of Grace: It refers to the three benefactors, namely Xiang Yu's Xiang Bo, Fan Zeng and Liu Bang's Lu Gong, who helped and supported Xiang Yu when he was in danger and finally achieved the Han Dynasty.
Three long and two short: refers to three kinds of unfortunate encounters, namely short life, physical defects, or encountering disasters. This term was often used in literature to describe the tragic fate of a character.
The Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature are 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', 'Water Margin', 'Journey to the West' and 'Dream of the Red Chamber'.
The '4 great Chinese novels' have a long - standing reputation. 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is famous for its vivid portrayal of historical figures and complex military strategies. 'Water Margin' shows the lives and values of the outlaws. 'Journey to the West' is full of magic and religious elements. 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is a masterpiece that delves into the relationships, emotions, and the decline of a noble family. It's a great window into Chinese culture and values.