Canonical Classics

The great novels of China · in the original

Read the classics,
character by character.

The four great Chinese novels in their original text — with pinyin on demand, line-by-line translation, and commentary. A free reading companion for learners of Chinese.

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書 目

The Library

四 大 名 著
西遊記

Journey to the West

Wú Chéng'ēn · Ming dynasty

The birth and rebellion of the Monkey King, and the great pilgrimage west for the sacred scriptures — a tale of mischief, magic, and enlightenment.

開卷 Begin reading →
三國演義

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Luó Guànzhōng · Ming dynasty

War, loyalty, and strategy in the collapse of the Han — the historical epic of three rival states contending for the empire.

即將推出 · Coming soon
水滸傳

Water Margin

Shī Nài'ān · Ming dynasty

One hundred and eight outlaws driven to the marshes of Liangshan — a sweeping saga of brotherhood and revolt against a corrupt order.

即將推出 · Coming soon
紅樓夢

Dream of the Red Chamber

Cáo Xuěqín · Qing dynasty

The rise and fall of the Jia family, and a doomed love among the garden's youth — the great novel of memory, manners, and impermanence.

即將推出 · Coming soon

How it works

原 文 · 拼 音 · 解 說

The authentic text 原文

Every novel in its original, unabridged form — the words as the author wrote them, in traditional characters.

Pinyin on demand 拼音

Reading stays clean by default. Tap once, and pinyin appears directly beneath each character — then vanishes again.

Translation & notes 解說

Line-by-line English alongside the Chinese, with commentary on the allusions, drawing on classical scholarship.