When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- King Lear (throughout): Wang Lung calls his first daughter "poor fool," which is what Lear calls Cordelia
- The Four Confucian Books (34.40)
Historical References
- The Xinhai Revolution (1.64)
- The Boxer Rebellion (14.92)
- The Opium Wars (27.43)
- The Chinese Communist Revolution (32.40)