the most famous name in literature

[cacian]

Hummm...so many must put up a voting system to decide which is to be the most popular..LOL

[dfloyd]

Tarzan of the apes.

[Alexander III]

Zhuge Liang, Ximen Qing, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, etc. probably Cao Cao or Zhuge Liang. Not only is Cao Cao traced in core texts of Chinese culture, his own poetic career was also noteworthy.

As for females, probably Cui Yingying as the most beautifully constructed female character of the Chinese canon.

The beauty of Chinese literature is that stories are retold in new and interesting ways - the core evolves as a sort of literary performance, so that Cao Cao goes from heroic bard to tragic romantic, to new money, to vile conqueror, to usurper, to schemer, to villain, to pure evil. The actual fluidity of the character as it transcends can only be compared to something like Faust in the west, as he is rewritten. Our works do not work in recasting cycles, but rather in inventing new personages, which is perhaps a weakness.

That awkward moment when JBI attempts to defy stereotypes by being a stereotype.

[JBI]

That awkward moment when JBI attempts to defy stereotypes by being a stereotype.

What does that mean. You are looking at the continuously largest body of readers in the world for the past 3000 years. Outside of the Bible, nothing has been as well read, and therefore famous. It's a mechanical answer.

[Sophia21]

Heathcliff

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

[Alexander III]

What does that mean. You are looking at the continuously largest body of readers in the world for the past 3000 years. Outside of the Bible, nothing has been as well read, and therefore famous. It's a mechanical answer.

hahah I was being lighthearted. Don't take what I say too seriously. I just meant, that as a gambling man I would have bet every last cent of mine on that fact that you were going to answer the question which a group of chinese writers, nothing wrong with that of course as you mention China has an equally rival body of literature to rival the european one.

[hawthorns]

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

What? More than Robin Hood, man in tights!? No way

[MarkBastable]

It's obviously Jesus Christ and/or God. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't thinking the OP's question through.

I feel we're almost wilfully discounting the strong candidacy of Paddington Bear.

[MystyrMystyry]

It could be the original poster Cacian herself - after all she has managed to rack up nearly 2000 posts in a mere 6 month period. She might be destined to be the most prolific literary figure!

Watch out Schazza and Papaya!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It could be the original poster Cacian herself - after all she has managed to rack up nearly 2000 posts in a mere 6 month period. She might be destined to be the most prolific literary figure!

Watch out Schazza and Papaya!

Well, I guess making a thread for every single question that pops into one's head does get the posting number high up there pretty quickly.

And I did forget about Paddington Bear. He's a BAMF.

[JBI]

hahah I was being lighthearted. Don't take what I say too seriously. I just meant, that as a gambling man I would have bet every last cent of mine on that fact that you were going to answer the question which a group of chinese writers, nothing wrong with that of course as you mention China has an equally rival body of literature to rival the european one.

To be honest, I wanted to do something out of Ramayana, Vishnu or something, but couldn't choose one whose name was standoutish enough, or easily spelled by me without having to look something up.

[mona amon]

Don Quixote?

If you ask people to name a famous painting, most of them will say Mona Lisa, but I don't think there's any literary equivalent of that.

[Seasider]

Readers for 3000 years? Are there any reliable findings of the Literacy Rate in China say, 500 years ago? Or even before the last Revolution?

[cacian]

Don Quixote?

If you ask people to name a famous painting, most of them will say Mona Lisa, but I don't think there's any literary equivalent of that.

Famous for its name for its paint?