Romance of the Western Chamber -- Popular Library of Famous Ancient Chinese Novels

Author: (Qing) Mingjiao Zhiren compiled, Song Fengdi edited
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Features: In the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, if you asked a scholar or writer which Chinese novel they considered the best, they would surely tell you it was Houqiu Zhuan. The title of Houqiu Zhuan is derived from the phrase "yao tiao shu nu, jun zi hao qiu" from the Guofeng section of the Book of Songs. The entire 18-volume work tells the love story of Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin. The two, who help each other in times of hardship, develop mutual affection while strictly adhering to the rules of propriety. They are ultimately granted a marriage by the imperial decree, becoming a "perfect match." Wu Hang Ye Ke commented in Zhuchun Yuan Xiaoshi that Houqiu Zhuan has a unique style, breaking free from common literary conventions, and that even a master like Qin Xi could stand out on his own. Yu Xin, who often criticized tales of scholars and beauties, said of Houqiu Zhuan that it has "better literary expression and more distinct character personalities."