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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Chinese Literature
| It is believed that there was a "Sixth Classic" not currently included in the Five Classics not just because it would become "The Six Classics" but because the manuscript was lost a long time ago. What is the Sixth Classic? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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Classic of Music. "The Classic of Music" completed the set of books on philosophy (The I Ching or Book of Changes), poetry (Classic of Poetry or Book of Odes), history (Classic of History), rites (Book of Rites), government (Spring and Autumn Annals) and music (Classic of Music). References about the Classic of Music are found in many classics, but the manuscript has never been found.
Poems and Odes. The first collection of ancient Chinese poetry.
| The great novel "Ru Lin Wai Shi" is about the live of poets in China. Written in the Middle Qing Dinasty (1644-1911) by a writer konwn as the "Elegant Literator" who failed repeatedly in the Imperial Examinations and then turned to poetry. What is the English title for the novel? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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The Scholars. This is a novel about poets meeting, poets drinking for long days and reciting even more. Life of the poet in Imperial China is the focus of this amazing book, about friendship and the worth of a life devoted to poetry among the hardships of daily life. Even political and social references are delightfully described with a lot of humor.
| Now back to the Great Sage. It is believed that the first real application of Confucian State Politics was based on "Chūn Qiū", the fifth among the Five Classics. What is its English translation? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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Spring and Autumn Annals. For those who think that Confucius is just the master of State power immovability in China should read this book carefully, as it is about the moral foundation of state power and consequently the moral foundation of political rebellion. The "wish" of heaven is not to justify any kind of government, but only that one which brings the good to the people.
| The Chinese novel "Hónglóu Mèng" written in the late 18th century is reputed as the paramount work in erotic and romantic Chinese literature. Its English translation is "Dream of Red Chamber". What is the other accepted English translation? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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The Chronicles of the Stone. This is the paramount work of Chinese classical literature. Written in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it is about the story of the declining power of a rich family. There are a lot of descriptions of social manners in late imperial China. One of the banquets in the novel became so famous that it is offered in some exclusive Chinese restaurants in Beijing. It is said Nixon was offered by Mao with the menu of the banquet from the Dream of Red Chamber. It is also kown as The Chronicles of the Stone or The Dream of Red Mansion.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is an historical novel nevertheless some mythological references. One of the best ways to learn about the permanent conspiracies for power in Imperial China.
| Magical realism apparently is not a Gabriel Garcia Marquez creation, as "Xī Yóu Jì", tells a real story with real and fantastic characters, being the most famous the other "Great Sage" or "Splendid Macaque". What's the English name for "Xi Yóu Ji"? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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Journey to the West. The story about how a Tang Priest made a long journey to India in order to fetch the Buddhist scriptures to China. The monk is a real historical character, but the story mixes reality with fantasy, as the monk is accompanied by three fantastic characters, former rebels of the divine law, one of them Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King.
| The Great Sage of Chinese Philosophy had its teachings collected and writen by disciples and postume commentators in a set of books named The Four Books. "Lùn Yǔ" is about human values. What is his English translation? | Chinese Classical Literature Quiz.
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The Analects. This book collects discussion among Confucius and his disciples about humanism and moral behaviour.
| What novel written in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty by Cao Xue Qin chronicles the lives of the Jia Clan, made up of the Ning-guo and Rong-guo Houses and its subsequent fall from grace and prestige? | Classics of Chinese Literature
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A Dream of Red Mansions. 'Hong Lou Meng' in Mandarin. Literally translated it means 'Red Mansion Dreaming'. It is also known as the 'Chronicles of the Stone', 'Dream of the Red Chamber' and 'The Story of the Stone' in English. It is one of the Four Great Classical Novels. This novel is one of the masterpieces of Chinese fiction and is generally considered as the greatest Chinese novel ever written.
The novel has 30 major characters and lots of minor ones, a total of 975 in all. It centers on the main character, Jia Baoyu; his romance with his cousin and his relationship with the female relations of the household. The novel focuses mainly on the female characters and they are portrayed as being more capable than the males and more learned too in contrast to most Qing females during that time.
| What is the name of the novel that is set in thirteenth century China when the Song Dynasty was falling and there was corruption and disorder in the empire; and tells of the trials and adventures of 108 outlaws, bandits and robbers considered criminals by the imperial authorities, but seen as heroes by the common people?
| Classics of Chinese Literature
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The Water Margin. It is called 'Shuihu Zhuan' in Mandarin and is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Shi Naian (1296? - 1370?). The book is also known as 'The 108 Heroes', 'All Men are Brothers' and 'Outlaws of the Marsh' in English.
This story is a mixture of history and legend, fact and fiction. Although the characters were bandits, they were also regarded as heroes in that they were brave and skillful warriors with a code of honour of their own. Because of the rampant injustice and corruption in the empire, these bandits/heroes were driven from society to the outlaw refuge of Liang Shan Po, a mountain in Shandong, China. Their exploits and adventures are recounted here.
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