chapter-based novel format; classical Chinese serial novel structure
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a narrative structure used in traditional Chinese novels, dividing the work into titled chapters (回) that summarize the content of each section
Originated during the Ming and Qing dynasties, this format typically includes formulaic phrases like "话说..." (It is said that...) and "且听下回分解" (If you want to know what happens next, listen to the next chapter). Classic examples include "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Journey to the West".
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is a representative work of classical Chinese chapter-based novels.
Each chapter of a traditional chapter-based novel usually begins with a poem that highlights the theme.
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This writing style inherited the tradition of Song and Yuan dynasty storytelling scripts, forming a unique chapter-based structure.
Unlike the continuous narrative of modern novels, the chapter-based format emphasizes a segmented feel to the story.