I don't know when it started, but people have become increasingly fond of linking literary works with moral standards, and so many classic masterpieces have suddenly changed in tone. For instance, the heroine of "Anna Karenina," one of the top ten globally renowned masterpieces, has shifted from a warrior to the spokesperson for a "green tea."
As for domestic classics.
Let's talk about another of the Four Great Classical Novels, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
There is a hunter named Liu An in the book, who wanted to entertain Liu Bei but found there was no food at home, so he used his wife to prepare a dish for Liu Bei. This breaches the bottom line of many people.
And "Water Margin," that ancient tale of outlaws, is a hotbed of controversy.
The most debated topic is whether the 108 heroes of Mount Liang truly deserve the title of "real heroes."
Should this book indeed be listed among the Four Great Classical Novels?
