As stars twinkle in the sky, literature has shone throughout China’s more than 5000 years of history. Like cobblestones left in rivers, many books have withstood the test of time and become classics. Among these timeless classics, there are eight excellent books that one must read to truly appreciate Chinese culture and literature. These books are known for having the best acceptable translations compared to others.

1. Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin.
Published in the mid-18th century, Dream of the Red Chamber is considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature. It tells the captivating love story between a young boy from a wealthy family and his cousin, as well as the eventual downfall of the affluent families. This novel, being the first to criticize feudal ethics and sympathize with the struggles of women, was warmly embraced by both the nobility and common people upon its release. Beyond its narrative, the book encompasses a wealth of knowledge, including architecture, geography, Chinese medicine, fortune-telling, politics, religions, stitchwork, cooking, antiques, and phytology. Scholars have delved into the field of “Redology” to uncover information about the author, his family, the characters’ prototypes, and the historical context of the story.

The translators of Dream of the Red Chamber, Yang Xianyi and his wife Gladys Yang, are highly skilled professionals in translating ancient Chinese works. Yang Xianyi was born and raised in China, while Gladys Yang was born and raised in England. Their translation accurately reflects the original Chinese expressions and caters to the reading habits of native English speakers.

2. The Plum in the Golden Vase.
Composed by Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng, a pseudonym, during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this book had been banned for a long time due to its explicit sexual descriptions. In contrast to its contemporaries that focused on male heroes and significant events, The Plum in the Golden Vase provides a glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary people. It delves into their friendships, encounters with prostitutes, extramarital affairs, as well as their experiences with eating, drinking, quarreling, and fighting. The wealthy businessman Ximen Qing serves as the central character, surrounded by six beautiful wives with intricate backgrounds. While he loves each of them and they are devoted to him, their relationships are marked by jealousy and secret conflicts.

The translator David Tod Roy dedicated 40 years to studying and translating this classic into English, resulting in his version being widely regarded as the best.

3. Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.
Based on the actual historical events of the Three Kingdoms period, this novel was published in the 14th century. It vividly depicts famous figures of the time, such as the wise Zhuge Liang, the fierce Cao Cao, the ambitious Liu Bei, and the jealous Zhou Yu. Through this novel, readers who may shy away from dense history books become captivated by and gain a deeper understanding of this period. The author employs concise yet powerful sentences to portray epic battles, strategic tactics, great leaders, common people, loyalty, betrayal, heroes, villains, governance, family dynamics, and love affairs. Numerous adaptations in the form of films, TV shows, operas, and novels have been inspired by this masterpiece.

There are two notable translated versions: one by C.H. Brewitt-Taylor, published in 1925, and the other by Moss Roberts, published in 1994. Both translators are highly regarded, and their respective versions have garnered praise.

4. The Journey to the West

Published in the Ming dynasty (16th century), Wu Cheng’en created this novel based on the legendary and true story of a monk named Xuan Zang in the Tang dynasty. Xuan Zang embarked on a journey to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Accompanying him are three apprentices, two of whom were transformed from a monkey and a pig, while the third was once a soldier of the Heavenly King. Xuan Zang’s horse was transformed from the third son of the King of the West Sea. Starting in China, they encounter various monsters, genies, and natural disasters along the way. After experiencing 81 challenges, they finally obtain the scriptures and return to China.

The translator Anthony C. Yu, who was born in Hong Kong, is a scholar of literature and religion with expertise in both Eastern and Western cultures. For the translation of this book, he received assistance from several English-speaking scholars, resulting in his version being considered the best in faithfully conveying the original meaning and presenting it in beautiful and fluent English.

5. Outlaws of the Marsh by Shi Nai’an.
One hundred and eight individuals, each with their own reasons—some having killed villains, others having dealt with unfaithful wives, disobeyed local officials, or kidnapped wicked ministers—gather at Mount Liang and form a formidable army to resist the central government. Eventually, the government recognizes their efforts and assigns them to campaign against invaders. However, in the end, the prominent leaders are killed by the government, and the group is disbanded. The story is based on an actual historical event in the late Song Dynasty (960-1279) when Song Jiang assembled 36 men to revolt against the government. The 108 characters in the story represent 108 heroic individuals. One interesting comparison can be made: in The Plum in the Golden Vase, the protagonist Ximen Qing and his lover Pan Jinlian get married and live together until they both die of illness. However, in Outlaws of the Marsh, they were never married and maintained an affair, leading to their eventual demise at the hands of Pan’s brother-in-law, Wu Song, who had slain a tiger after drinking 18 large bowls of wine. Due to Outlaws of the Marsh, Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian have become symbols of betrayal in Chinese marriage culture.

Translator Sidney Shapiro, born in New York, USA, moved to China after graduating from Columbia University and Yale University, where he majored in Chinese language, history, and culture. He has translated over 20 Chinese books into English and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Translation by the Translators Association of China in 2010.

6. Fortress Besieged by Chien Chung Shu.

Have you ever heard of the saying “truth is naked,” where a lady is referred to as “partial truth” because she wears only a scarlet top and navy blue, skin-tight shorts? Have you ever experienced waking up from a hangout and feeling a “sawing pain” in your head, with your tongue feeling like a coir doormat used for wiping shoes before entering a house? Do you know what would happen if you witnessed a dirty girl seizing a louse and squeezing it? Do you agree that people who don’t readily speak give the impression that they are packed with wisdom, just like a locked, tightly sealed chest is assumed to be filled with treasure? These vivid narrations and funny metaphors are from the Chinese novel “Fortress Besieged,” written by Chien Chung Shu and translated by Jeanne Kelly and Nathan K. Mao. The story takes place during the wartime of Chinese anti-Japanese resistance and revolves around the life, love, marriage, and career of Fang Hung-chien, a returnee.

In this novel, highly educated individuals are not what we typically perceive them to be as understanding, generous, and knowledgeable. On the contrary, they are portrayed as selfish, snobbish, vain, and childish, much like William Makepeace Thackeray’s “Vanity Fair.” Like Thackeray’s work, Chien’s novel is filled with irony and humor. The slogan of the novel, “marriage is like a fortress besieged, people inside want to rush out, and people outside want to rush in,” applies not only to marriage but also to life and career, making it a popular and often quoted motto since its publication.

The translation by Jeanne Kelly and Nathan K Mao captures Chien Chung Shu’s humorous expressions and ironic metaphors, making it the only English version available.

7. Love in A Fallen City by Eileen Chang.

This is a collection of Eileen Chang’s six novellas. “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier” tells the story of a young girl student who falls in love with a playboy, marries him, and resorts to sleeping with other men to earn money to support him. “Love in a Fallen City” narrates the story of a divorced woman who finds love with a man in the backdrop of Hong Kong during the war. “The Golden Cangue” follows the life of a poor girl who marries a disabled wealthy man in pursuit of a better life. As she grows older, her thoughts and personality become twisted, leading her to seek revenge on her son and daughter, resulting in her wife’s suicide and her fiancé fleeing. The other three novellas included are “Jasmine Tea,” “Sealed Off,” and “Red Rose, White Rose.” Eileen Chang’s stories revolve around the love and destiny of ordinary women. Her words are like a luxuriant yet cold sword, piercing through beautiful facades to reveal the ugly truths beneath. Eileen Chang is one of China’s greatest authors, adept at capturing people’s emotions, thoughts, sounds, and views through the use of metaphors. Reading her stories will provide a deeper understanding of the challenging living conditions faced by women during that time.

Translator Karen S. Kingsbury is an expert in the study of Eileen Chang and her works. Her translation stays true to the original versions, capturing the sentence styles, word choices, and conveying the intended meanings.

8. The moment in Pecking by Lin Yutang.

This is a novel written in English. The story takes place from 1901 to 1938 and revolves around Yao Mulan, a beautiful and intelligent girl from a Taoist family who marries a young man from a Confucian family. However, she is in love with another young man who is dedicated to establishing a new and progressive China. As the story unfolds, the three prominent families navigate and adapt to the historical events of the time, including the Boxer Uprising, the Republican Revolution of 1911, the Warlord Era, the May 4th Movement, and the start of the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945.

Lin Yutang, a writer, scholar, translator, and linguist, composed this novel between 1938 and 1939 while living in Paris. The novel’s success earned him a nomination for the Nobel Prize.