A Critique of Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Deing Chinese Literary Classics

Author: Wang Xuetai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: If the "Four Great Classical Novels" can be called classics, then Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber are truly classics. The former not only demonstrates the extraordinary imagination of the Chinese people but also artistically portrays the essence of Buddhism and the concept of "karma," embodying the literary spirit of truth, goodness, and beauty. If greatness is the standard, then Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin truly qualifies as a great work, representing the highest achievement in Chinese literature. It not only faithfully recreates the history of the time but also observes the humility and helplessness of individual lives with a compassionate gaze, ultimately permeating the work with profound religious sentiments. On the other hand, Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms cannot withstand the scrutiny of modernity, despite their artistic excellence. Their genetic makeup is too toxic. The former heavily promotes vagabond culture and the aesthetics of violence, corrupting the souls of countless "ignorant" individuals. The latter distorts history, glorifies political intrigue and servility, and immerses the Chinese people in the cold and cruel aspects of history, leaving them unable to extricate themselves. Therefore, thoroughly cleansing the pathologies of traditional Chinese culture and the toxins in classical literature holds significant practical importance. I believe the article by Wang Xuetai, a researcher at the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Li Xinyu, a director at the School of Literature, Jilin University, will resonate with you.