Exploring the Pioneers of Chinese Classical Fiction

Edward La is a literary virtuoso, excelling in poetic verses and prose. His expertise spans from verses and couplets to theatrical works, with novels being his most celebrated genre. He is credited as the mastermind behind the epic novel 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' Interestingly, La Quán Trung is also believed to have contributed to the editing and adaptation of 'Water Margin,' two of the Four Great Classical Novels – the most renowned works in classical Chinese literature.

Edward La hails from an aristocratic family. In his youth, he dedicated himself to serving the king and aiding the nation. However, during the decline of the Yuan dynasty, he chose a wandering path, earning him the nickname 'Sea Drifter.'

Among his numerous novels, besides 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' there are rumored to be over 10 other works. Some known titles include 'Chronicles of Tang,' 'Wandering Through the Five Dynasties,' and 'Threefold Love Tales.' (The existing copies have undergone alterations and rewrites by later generations, losing the original essence)

Thiết Ngưng, known as the “Literary Beauty,” has become the third President in the 57-year history of the Writers' Association of China, following Mao Thuẫn and Ba Kim. In 1979, Thiết Ngưng joined the literary magazine “Hoa Sơn” as a fiction editor. In 1982, she published the short story “Oh, Snowy Fragrance!”, which immediately gained widespread acclaim. In 1984, her short story “The June Story” drew attention and was adapted into a television series. In 1985, the novel “The Red Buttonless Shirt” was turned into the film “The Girl in the Red Shirt,” winning the Best Fiction Film award at both the Hundred Flowers and Golden Rooster Awards.

Thiết Ngưng wrote numerous novels, with notable works such as “The Great Female Prisoner” (Women Bathing), “Forever Far,” and “The Twelfth Night”… Some of her works have been translated into various languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Norwegian, Vietnamese, etc. Her contemporary works predominantly depict the stories and lives of the common people, focusing on the inner world of the characters, reflecting their pursuit of ideals, conflicts, and sorrows with eloquent and innovative language.

Kim Dung stands as one of the most influential modern Chinese writers. The fame of his works has crowned him the most successful martial arts novelist in history. From 1955 to 1972, he penned a total of 14 novels and 1 short story. The popularity of these tales elevated him to the pinnacle of martial arts novelists, reaching 300 million copies in circulation (not counting a substantial amount of pirated copies) across mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Asia, and translated into various languages such as Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, English, French, and more.

In 1972, after completing his final novel, Kim Dung officially retired, dedicating subsequent years to editing and revising his literary works. The first comprehensive revision took place in 1979. By then, his martial arts novels had garnered recognition from numerous readers. His works have been adapted into TV series and video games. Kim Dung's novels have opened the gateway to the world of chivalry for many, blending fiction with elements rooted in historical truths.

Ngo Thua An, also known as Xa Duong Son Nhan, with the pen name Nu Trung, is a novelist, writer, and poet from China who lived during the Ming dynasty. He was born into a small trading family that had a passion for collecting books. Both his grandfather and father were officials who passed civil service exams. He studied at the Nanjing Imperial College for over 10 years. It is said that from a young age, Ngo Thua An was fascinated by supernatural and mythical stories. Despite his father's prohibition, he would sneak out to the market to read books. As he grew older, Ngo Thua An exhibited a straightforward personality, and his words reflected a part of his character.

One of Ngo Thua An's most famous works is the novel 'Journey to the West,' which he wrote when he was over 70 years old. This novel is beloved by many generations of Chinese people, and the film adaptation is also popular among audiences in various Asian countries, including Vietnam.

Bo Tang Ling, also known as Lieu Xian and Sword Saint, or referred to as Lieu Tuyen Cu Si, was a Chinese writer under the Qing Dynasty. He is widely recognized for his work, Strange Stories from a Studio of Idle Talk. Bo Tang Ling was born into a poor merchant family in Truy Xuyen district. He may have ancestral roots in Mongolia. At the age of 19, he passed the imperial examination but only obtained the official title at the age of 71. Bo Tang Ling spent most of his time teaching and collecting unusual stories, later compiled in his work Strange Stories from a Studio of Idle Talk.

Bo Tang Ling created works in poetry, novels, and short stories. His most famous work is the collection of short stories titled Strange Stories from a Studio of Idle Talk, comprising 448 different short stories about bizarre events that he had gathered. This is considered a pinnacle in the classical Chinese short story genre.

Thi Nại Am, born in 1296 and passed away in 1370 according to most historical records, is the renowned Chinese novelist from the late Yuan to early Ming dynasty. Originally from Co To, To Chau, he later moved to Hung Hoa, also in the Jiangsu province. It was in this locale that Thi Nại Am composed 'Water Margin,' a work considered the pinnacle of classical Chinese narrative prose.

Thi Nại Am quickly gained fame in the region, attracting a swarm of students seeking his guidance. Among his disciples, around 1344, was a 14-year-old youth, the son of a merchant from Thai Nguyen (Son Tay), who came to study under him and later became an outstanding writer. This was La Quan Trung (1330-1400), the author of the novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'

Snow Tao Can, born as Tao Triem, known as Dream Nguyen, pen name Snow Can, Pho Can, Khe Can, is a Chinese novelist, author of the novel Red Chamber Dream, one of the four great masterpieces of classical Chinese literature. Snow Tao Can was born and raised when the Tao family was in decline, living in poverty on the outskirts of Beijing, where he lived in Ho Mon (the family of Tong scholars of the Qing dynasty). Here, he befriended Zhang Nghi Tuyen and two brothers Don Man, Don Thanh, considering them as close friends.

Red Chamber Dream can be seen as the entire painful memories of Snow Tao Can about the glorious and declining days of his family and class. However, transcending those memories, Stone Head Record is a work with a very objective view of the nature of indulgence and enjoyment of the noble class, especially the noble class of the Qing dynasty and the decline of that class. In other words, when constructing this chapter, Snow Tao Can stood in the subjective position of a person in the story and also stood in the objective position of a witness.