China’s Big Four

China's big four most talented women.
Ancient China's four beauties: Shih Tzu, Wang Zhaojun, Yang Yuhuan, and Diao Chan. (Image: via Wikimedia Commons)

China has a long history and profound culture. From China’s big four classic novels to China’s big four talented women, some netizens came up with more of China’s big four after going through all aspects of China’s history and culture.

One of China's big four novels is the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West.'
One of the most beloved episodes from the classic Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the tale of the Monkey King and Princess Iron Fan. (Image: Shen Yun Performing Arts)

Here is a list of China’s big four

  • Four most talented women: Cai Wenji, Ban Zhao or Shangguan Wan’er, Zhuo Wenjun, and Li Qingzhao
  • Four great classical novels: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber
  • Four beauties of ancient China: Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Yang Guifei, Diao Chan
  • Four ancient operas that depict tragedy: Guan Hanqing’s The Injustice to Dou E or Snow in Midsummer, Ma Zhiyuan’s masterpiece Han Gongqiu, Bai Pu’s Indus Rain, and Ji Junxiang’s The Orphan of Zhao
  • Four legendary stories: Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Yu the Great’s Flood Control, Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, and Meng Jiangnv
  • Four famous Buddhist mountains: Mount Wutai in Shanxi, Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Putuo in Zhejiang, and Mount Jiuhua in Anhui
  • Four great inventions: direction compass, gunpowder, printing techniques, and the geomantic compass
  • Four ancient capitals: Xi’an, Luoyang, Beijing, and Nanjing
  • Four cuisines: Lu (Shandong), Chuan (Sichuan), Su (Jiangsu), and Yue (Guangdong)
  • Four traditional festivals: Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Ching Ming Festival
  • Four major regional operas: Beijing Opera also known as Peking Opera, Huangmei Song originally known as the Caicha Opera, Cantonese Opera, and the Yueju Opera
  • Four famous mountains: Huangshan (absolute), Huashan (danger), Lushan (popular), and Taishan (scholar)
  • Four famous wines: Maotai, Fenjiu, Luzhou Lao, Jiao Tequ, and Xifeng

Translated by Chua BC

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  • Nspirement Staff

    Nspirement (or Inspirement) is the act of becoming motivated, encouraged, and enthused to the point of making a significant difference or change. Our aim is to offer articles that will inspire, uplift, and educate our readers, as well as insights into all things China and China’s impact on the world today.

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