"Chinese classics from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms to The Dream of the Red Chamber and the Jin Ping Mei"

-The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century. The story takes place toward the end of the Han dynasty and is part non-fiction and part myth. Although the title implies romance, it is the story of the military and political struggles between three small kingdoms. The story is immensely complex for its time and follows the plot from many different viewpoints.

-The Dream of the Red Chamber  was written by Cao Xueqin in the 18th century. It depicts the rise and decline of a wealthy clan in Beijing.

-Jin Ping Mei was written by Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng no earlier than the 17th century. It is a naturistic journal telling the story of a wealthy socialite who has six wives and several mistresses. The plot follows the sexual struggles of the women who are a part of his "clan."