Cut the Monkey (King) Business and Discover the Classical Novels of Chinese Literature... in Cartoon Form

Collectively known as the Four Great Classical Novels (四大名著 sì dà míngzhù), Journey to the West, Outlaws of the Marsh, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Romance of Three Kingdoms are cornerstones of classical Chinese literature, and have enthralled and delighted readers for centuries. They are considered must-read texts for scholars, and really anyone that is interested in better understanding Chinese culture and language.

However, the language in the books, which is mostly classical Chinese, requires very strong reading skills and can be challenging even for some native speakers, let alone those learning it as a foreign language.

So what's a xuéshēng to do? Luckily, all four of these classics have been adapted into cartoon versions aimed at a younger audience, with simplified and relatively easy-to-understand dialogue. Whether you're a child or just a child-at-heart, watching these cartoons is a great way for Mandarin learners to access these Chinese classics in a fun, entertaining way.

Journey to the West  - 西游记 Xīyóu jì

Journey to the West tells the story of the legendary pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang as he travels westward from China into to central Asia and India. Set during the Tang dynasty (618-907), the story is filled with trials and tribulations, which Xuanzang – accompanied by his three protectors, including the most famous of all, 'Monkey King' – must overcome. The book has been adapted into numerous movies and TV series. This cartoon has 52 episodes in total, each of which lasts for 20 minutes.

Watch it here.

Outlaws of the Marsh - 水浒传 Shuǐhǔ zhuàn

Written by Shi Nai’an in the 14th Century, this book tells the story of 108 outlaws who join forces to form an army to stand against their harsh feudal rulers. Eventually granted amnesty by the government, they are then sent on campaigns to resist invaders and suppress rebel forces. This story was actually written in vernacular Chinese, rather than classical, and has been adapted into 52 episodes for the cartoon version. 

Watch it here.

Dream of the Red Chamber - 红楼梦 Hónglóumèng

Dream of the Red Chamber is perhaps the most highly revered of the four classics. Written by Cao Xueqin, this masterpiece is believed to be semi-autobiographical, as the story mirrors the fortunes of Cao’s own family. The novel is famous not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also as a great historical record – the detailed observations about daily life and social structures give audiences a great insight into how 18th-century Chinese aristocrats would have lived.

Watch it here.

Romance of Three Kingdoms - 三国演义 Sānguó yǎnyì

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese historical novel that takes place at the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdom's era (169-208), a particularly turbulent time in Chinese history. While it follows hundreds of different characters, the main focus is on the three power blocs that eventually became the three states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The novel is rich with plot twists and intrigue, battles both in personal lives and on the literal battlefield, and spans almost 100 years in total. 

Watch it here.

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Photos: Iqiyi