Why couldn't Generals of the Yang Family and Investiture of the Gods become the Four Great Masterpieces?

2025-03-01 17:49

The Yang Family Generals and Investiture of the Gods were both ancient Chinese novels that were widely read and praised, but why couldn't they become the "Four Great Masterpieces"? The following are some possible reasons: 1. Time factor: Journey to the West, Water Margins, Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms were all works of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, while Generals of the Yang Family and Investiture of the Gods were created in different dynasties and periods. These works presented rich characters and plots in the historical context, with profound cultural implications, but their influence and status may not be as good as other works in the historical context of that time. 2. Literature style and subject matter: Although Generals of the Yang Family and Investiture of the Gods are both classic works of ancient Chinese novels, their literary styles and subject matter are different. Journey to the West used fantasy and mythology as its theme to describe the legendary story of the main characters such as Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk. The plot was complex, the characters were full, and the content was profound. It was a classic work in ancient Chinese novels. Water Margins, on the other hand, portrayed the image of heroes such as Lin Chong, Wu Song and Li Kui with the theme of peasant uprising. The plot was full of twists and turns and had a strong social atmosphere. Dream of the Red Chamber, on the other hand, was a masterpiece of ancient Chinese novels. It described the life of the aristocrats as the theme and depicted the characters such as Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. 3. Target audience and influence: The target audience and influence of these works are also different. Journey to the West is a classic of ancient Chinese novels. Its literary value and ideology have been widely recognized and praised, affecting several generations. Water margin, with its profound social significance and character image, became the source of folk stories and influenced the literary creation of later generations. 'Dream of the Red Chamber' was hailed as a monumental work in the history of Chinese literature. Its influence and status surpassed other works and influenced the development of the entire Chinese culture. To sum up, although the Yang Family Generals and Investiture of the Gods are both classics of ancient Chinese novels, their literary value and status may be insufficient compared to Journey to the West, Water Margins, Dream of the Red Chamber and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so they cannot be considered as the "Four Great Masterpieces".