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——【Foreword·】 ——»
The charm of the four masterpieces is self-evident, and they shine like bright pearls in the treasure house of Chinese literature. However, when this question was put in front of many netizens, their answers were surprisingly unanimous - if one of them was to be deleted, it would have to be! Such remarks have caused widespread heated discussions and discussions, and we can't help but wonder what kind of existence is the book that was unanimously spurned by netizens? What is the charm of the "Four Great Masterpieces"? How should we view this view? Let's take a closer look at these four works and uncover their mysteries.
——【The history of the rise and fall of the four major families·】——»
Dream of the Red Chamber, the pinnacle of classical Chinese literature, has a multifaceted appeal to it.
Cao Xueqin focuses on the rise and fall of the four major families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue during the Qing Dynasty, thereby revealing the historical law of the rise and succession of the entire feudal society. At the beginning of the story, the encounter between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu was endowed with the color of karma in the previous life, and the two were like brothers and sisters, just like the reincarnation of the Shenying waiter and the Zhuzhu Xiancao in the previous life, burying the clues of love. At the same time, Xue Baochai was regarded as Jia Baoyu's good couple, which caused a well-designed substitute marriage turmoil.
The fate of the twelve hairpins in Jinling is like a swan song that slowly opens. Lin Daiyu, with her orchid heart and smart wisdom, is like a dark orchid in Jiafu, fresh and refined. However, her talent and arrogance failed to resist the pressure of the world, and finally died after a lingering sickbed, leaving the world with endless laments and regrets. Xue Baochai is different, she is knowledgeable, gentle and virtuous, deeply loved by the whole of Jiafu, regarded as the ideal virtuous helper, and finally married Baoyu, but the married life is not as happy as she wishes.
With her tenacious and brave character, Tanchun became a clear stream in Jiafu, and despite her humble background, she was indomitable and worked hard to maintain her dignity and status. Wang Xifeng is even more intelligent, she is shrewd and capable, and is in charge of the daily affairs of Jiafu, but her scheming methods also made her fall into complex interpersonal entanglements, and finally ended up in a bleak end.
And the images of Qingwen, raiders and other subordinates are also impressive. Qingwen has a strong personality and dares to speak out, but she is hated because of her sharp edge, and finally dies unjustly. Gentle and loyal, her relationship with Baoyu is delicate and complicated, and although she eventually marries Jiang Yuhan, her fate is still full of tragedy.
It is the richness and variety of these female images that show Cao Xueqin's profound insight into the contradictions between men and women in the feudal era. By depicting the joys and sorrows of these women, he reveals the various dilemmas and challenges faced by women in the patriarchal society of that era, as well as their unremitting efforts for survival and dignity. These vivid descriptions not only make the reader feel deep sympathy for these characters, but also provoke a deep reflection on the social reality of the time.
Jia Baoyu's accusation of the times and the teachings of "preserving heavenly principles and destroying human desires" in Yihong Courtyard imply the author's ideological implication of examining the feudal system. The delicate depictions of costumes, architecture, and handicrafts in the book have become important materials for later generations to study ancient art.
Lin Daiyu's uninhibited personality and Jia Baoyu's unique insights inspire readers to reflect on the repression and exploitation of the great era, and become a pioneer in the awakening of women's consciousness. The reason why this novel has endured through the ages is precisely because it is all-encompassing, rich in connotation, and far-reaching in meaning. It is not only as moving as an epic of love, but also as extensive as a social epic, telling the glory and decline of feudal society.
——[A master with a pair of apprentices]——»
"Journey to the West", a classic masterpiece, can be said to be a household name, whether it is a published text version or an adapted TV series version, it is deeply loved by readers and audiences. Most people have been familiar with this story about Tang Seng Xitian's scriptures since childhood, as well as the ninety-nine eighty-one difficulties he and his three apprentices experienced. The characters in this work are so vivid that they have become part of almost everyone's childhood memories.
Let's take a look at what people have to say about the main characters in the work. Some people love Sun Wukong because he is brave and diligent, and he is never soft on monsters. He has supernatural powers, wisdom and bravery, and superior strength, but he often causes trouble because of his whimsical will. Others prefer the funny and lascivious character of Zhu Bajie, who brings a lot of comedic effect and becomes the humorous leader of the team, although his behavior is far from what Buddhist practice should be.
As for Sha Wujing, some viewers thought that his character was too plain, and they just commented on lines like "The master was arrested". But without his presence, the whole team would have already dispersed. As a great apprentice, he is loyal and always follows Tang Seng and never abandons.
Interestingly, some people are not very interested in Tang Seng as the leader. On the one hand, he always recited the mantra, resting on his laurels, and was clumsy in identifying monsters, so he repeatedly ignored Sun Wukong's judgment, on the other hand, it was his perseverance that brought together such a special team and finally achieved the grand wish of learning from the scriptures.
Different audiences have different preferences, and it's hard to avoid it. But there is no denying that the characters in "Journey to the West" are wonderful, and each character has its own unique personality charm. Sun Wukong is brave and detached, and with a little willful rebellion that is not afraid of heaven and earth, Zhu Bajie's image is funny, but he is loyal to his senior brother, Sha Wujing is silent, but he is an indispensable member of the team, Tang Seng is stubborn, but it is with his determination and belief that he can finally achieve this journey of learning scriptures.
Although each character has more or less flaws, it is these flaws that make them seem more amiable and human. We are happy to accept and love these characters, not only because the novel itself is fascinating, but also because they create a vivid and colorful world, so that readers can empathize, identify with and feel a sense of substitution.
The charm of "Journey to the West" lies not only in the popular and funny plot, but also in its profound satire on the dark side of feudal society, as well as its sincere portrayal of the beautiful side of human nature. This unique artistic charm cannot be completely denied by any preference or prejudice.
——【·Three countries fight for the world·】——»
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms", as one of the four great Chinese masterpieces, can be called a well-known classic. This novel is set against the backdrop of the great chaos in the world at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and vividly depicts an era in which heroes rose together and heroes emerged.
In this epic drama, Cao Cao is undoubtedly the most striking figure. He is eloquent and strategic, and a "Turtle Although Shou" shows his heroic nature, which is admirable. At the same time, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu made a vow to live and die together in Taoyuan, showing the spirit of loyalty and becoming a model of loyalty and righteousness for future generations.
Zhou Yu is known for his elegant demeanor, and the sentence "between talking and laughing, the canopy is in ashes" has been passed down to this day. Lu Bu is brave and fearless, mighty, and well-deserved as the "commander of the three armed forces". In addition, characters such as Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and other characters also have their own characteristics, all of which are impressive.
To this day, the classic masterpiece "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" still exudes its unique charm, and the war scenes and character wisdom depicted in it still make readers talk about it today. Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness was particularly prominent, and his "empty city plan" played the piano calmly when Sima Yi's army was pressing, so that the other party was suspicious and did not dare to attack rashly, and this strategy became a typical example of psychological warfare. "Straw Boat Borrowing Arrows" shows Zhuge Liang's skillful use of the right time and place, using the enemy's arrows to create a winning weapon for himself on the foggy river, a strategy that not only reflects his wit, but also his keen insight into the battlefield environment.
In addition to Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness, the Battle of Guandu and the Battle of Chibi are famous battles in ancient Chinese history, and their process is full of twists and suspense. In the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao defeated the powerful Yuan Shao with a small victory, and this battle was not only a tactical victory, but also a victory in psychological warfare. Cao Cao's perseverance and decisiveness in this battle, as well as his grasp of timing, became a model for future generations to follow.
The Battle of Chibi was another classic battle, in which the Sun-Liu coalition cleverly defeated Cao Cao's million-strong army, which not only changed the power structure of the Three Kingdoms, but also made the names of Zhou Yu, Huang Gai and others forever engraved on the monuments of Chinese history. The storylines of these battles are climactic and full of drama, making for a fascinating read.
The reason why "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" has a lasting charm is not only because of the author's clever combination of history and fiction, but also because of its vivid and vivid character creation. Each character is vivid, and the personality is extremely distinct. As the reader reads, it feels as if he or she is in the middle of it, fighting side by side with these heroes.
Throughout the book, we can see that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is not only a historical novel, but also a carrier of the spirit of Chinese culture. The loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness displayed by the Shu Han heroes depicted in the book, such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang, are the core values of Confucian culture. These qualities were particularly valuable during the turbulent Three Kingdoms period, as they united the hearts of the people and enabled the Shu Han regime to gain widespread popular support.
Liu Bei's benevolent government and pro-people image are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and his words and deeds reflect his care for the people and his sense of responsibility for the country. Guan Yu's righteousness, Zhang Fei's brave loyalty, and Zhuge Liang's wisdom and loyalty, these character traits are magnified in the novel and become an ideal model in people's hearts. Their stories have been widely circulated among the people and have become an inspiration for future generations to follow.
Although Luo Guanzhong may inevitably add his own emotional tendencies and value judgments when creating "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", such subjective colors do not diminish the artistic charm and historical value of the work. On the contrary, this subjectivity makes the work more vivid and tugs at the reader's heartstrings. By reading this work, we can not only appreciate the social style and humanistic spirit of ancient China, but also gain moral enlightenment and behavioral guidance.
To sum up, although the Romance of the Three Kingdoms may have a certain subjective color as a literary work, the traditional virtues such as loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness conveyed by it still have lasting value. It is entirely possible for us to enjoy this literary masterpiece while drawing spiritual nourishment from the work, so that these ancient values can continue to play a positive role in our lives.
——[·108 "Heroes" were forced to go to Liangshan·——»
"Water Margin" is one of China's four great masterpieces, and by describing the ups and downs of the fate of 108 heroes such as Song Jiang, the work reflects the dark reality of society at that time and the people's desire for freedom and equality. This masterpiece occupies an important place in the history of literature, but there are also some controversial contents, and many netizens have recently called for the deletion of some episodes in the book.
One of the controversies is the experience of some characters being forced to go to Yangsan. For example, Lu Junyi's family was rich, but he was framed and imprisoned by Song Jiang's design, and finally his family was ruined, Qin Ming was also forced to go to Liangshan by Song Jiang and became the so-called "traitor", Zhu Tong, Li Ying and others were "fancied" by Song Jiang and forced to join Liangshan. Song Jiang is known as the teacher of benevolence and righteousness, but in fact, he does not really embody any benevolence and morality.
There are some negative behaviors such as violence and fornication in the book, which make people question the title of the so-called "hero". Sun Erniang obviously opened a black shop, Wu Song was guilty of murder before going to Liangshan, and Shi Qian was a frequent visitor to theft in the capital. Even after joining Liangshan, some people still committed evil, such as Sun Li's bloody bath in Zhujiazhuang, and Dong Ping's abduction of women from good families, and their behavior was fashionable.
It is worth mentioning that "Water Margin", as one of the four classical Chinese masterpieces, has always been highly regarded for its historical status and literary value. However, when analyzing this work in depth, it is not difficult to find that there are obvious deficiencies in the portrayal of female characters. Although "Water Margin" depicts the heroic deeds of one hundred and eight heroes of Liangshan, there are very few female characters in the book, and only three female characters stand out: Lin Chong's wife Lin Niangzi, Song Jiang's sister Song Qing, and Lu Junyi's wife Jia Shi. This imbalance in the gender ratio reveals to a certain extent the neglect and debasement of women in society at that time.
From the point of view of characterization, these three female characters generally have a low status in the novel, and are mostly portrayed as male appendages. For example, although Lin Niangzi is beautiful and virtuous, she is snubbed by her husband Lin Chong in her married life; Although Song Qing is the sister of Song Jiang, her role in the story is limited to conveying information or serving as a bond of brotherly affection; And Jia was killed by her husband Lu Junyi for infidelity. The fate of these female characters in the novels is mostly tragic, and their stories often revolve around male characters, lacking independent personality charm and value pursuit.
From the perspective of plot arrangement, the female characters in "Water Margin" often become tools to promote the development of the plot. For example, what happened to Lin Niangzi directly led to the tragedy of Lin Chong being forced to go to Liangshan; The appearance of Song Qing provided Song Jiang with many opportunities to communicate with the outside world; Jia's infidelity sparked Lu Junyi's revenge. In these episodes, female characters seem to exist only to satisfy the emotional needs and plot needs of men, whose fate is entirely in the hands of men and cannot decide their own destiny autonomously.
From the perspective of cultural background, the sexist phenomenon of "Water Margin" is not accidental, but a true reflection of the patriarchal culture of feudal society at that time. In feudal society, women were at the bottom of society for a long time, and their status, rights and dignity were often suppressed and deprived. The embodiment of this concept in literary works not only weakens the richness and diversity of women's images, but also limits the status and role of women in social life. Therefore, when we re-examine "Water Margin" today, we should critically look at the gender issues in it, in order to better understand and reflect on the patriarchal culture of feudal society.
The most puzzling thing is Song Jiang's treatment of Li Kui. Li Kui has always followed Song Jiang and regarded him as his teacher, but Song Jiang gave him a cup of poisoned wine at the end, and the ending was extremely cruel. Other Liangshan heroes also did not have a good death, and in the end they were either killed or joined the officialdom. This is contrary to their original intention of rebelling.
Although the literary value and historical significance of "Water Margin" as one of the four famous works of ancient China cannot be ignored, it is undeniable that some of the content and plot of the book have caused a lot of controversy in today's society. The work has won praise for its vivid depictions and profound social critique, but some of its elements of violence, vulgarity, and sexism conflict with the morality and values of contemporary society.
Therefore, some netizens believe that in order to adapt to the reading habits and values of modern readers, these controversial contents in "Water Margin" should be appropriately deleted. They believe that through this treatment, this classical literary work can be made more in line with the aesthetic standards of contemporary people, and at the same time, it can better inherit and carry forward its literary value.
However, the deletion of classics is not an easy task, and it involves the preservation of cultural heritage and respect for the spirit of the original work. On the one hand, if it is excessively deleted, it may damage the integrity and historical background of the work; On the other hand, if the original appearance is not preserved in moderation, it may lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and controversies. Therefore, when dealing with this issue, we need to weigh the pros and cons and maintain a rational attitude. It is necessary to take into account the importance of preserving traditional culture, and at the same time to pay attention to the expectations of modern society for morality and civilization.
——【·Conclusion·】——»
Each of the four novels has its own merits, but in today's society, we should evaluate them with a dialectical eye, both to see their essence and to critically look at the dross in them. This is a very controversial issue as to which of the four famous novels should be withdrawn, and different people have different opinions, some people think that "Dream of Red Mansions" should be withdrawn, and others think that "Water Margin" should be eliminated. The answer to this question is inconclusive, and it reflects the diversity and complexity of people's literary value judgments.