The Manchu epoch has left to us what is by general consent the finest novel in Chinese literature, Hung-lou-meng ("The Dream of the Red Chamber"), by Ts’ao Hsueeh-ch’in, who died in 1763.  It describes the downfall of a rich and powerful family from the highest rank of the gentry, and the decadent son’s love of a young and emotional lady of the highest circles.  The story is clothed in a mystical garb that does something to soften its tragic ending.  The interesting novel Ju-lin wai-shih ("Private Reports from the Life of Scholars"), by Wu Ching-tzu (1701-1754), is a mordant criticism of Confucianism with its rigid formalism, of the social system, and of the examination system.  Social criticism is the theme of many novels.  The most modern in spirit of the works of this period is perhaps the treatment of feminism in the novel Ching-hua-yuean, by Li Yu-chen (d. 1830), which demanded equal rights for men and women.

The drama developed quickly in the Manchu epoch, particularly in quantity, especially since the emperors greatly appreciated the theatre.  A catalogue of plays compiled in 1781 contains 1,013 titles!  Some of these dramas were of unprecedented length.  One of them was played in 26 parts containing 240 acts; a performance took two years to complete!  Probably the finest dramas of the Manchu epoch are those of Li Yue (born 1611), who also became the first of the Chinese dramatic critics.  What he had to say about the art of the theatre, and about aesthetics in general, is still worth reading.

About the middle of the nineteenth century the influence of Europe became more and more marked.  Translation began with Yen Fu (1853-1921), who translated the first philosophical and scientific books and books on social questions and made his compatriots acquainted with Western thought.  At the same time Lin Shu (1852-1924) translated the first Western short stories and novels.  With these two began the new style, which was soon elaborated by Liang Ch’i-ch’ao, a collaborator of Sun Yat-sen’s, and by others, and which ultimately produced the “literary revolution” of 1917.  Translation has continued to this day; almost every book of outstanding importance in world literature is translated within a few months of its appearance, and on the average these translations are of a fairly high level.

Particularly fine work was produced in the field of porcelain in the Manchu epoch.  In 1680 the famous kilns in the province of Kiangsi were reopened, and porcelain that is among the most artistically perfect in the world was fired in them.  Among the new colours were especially green shades (one group is known as famille verte), and also black and yellow compositions.  Monochrome porcelain also developed further, including very fine dark blue, brilliant red (called “ox-blood"), and white.  In the eighteenth century, however, there began an unmistakable decline, which has continued to this day, although there are still a few craftsmen and a few kilns that produce outstanding work (usually attempts to imitate old models), often in small factories.