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You Don’t Know Lit

You Don’t Know Lit

311. Chinese Classics

Jun 16, 2026 · 58 min · 14 segments

Water Margin by Shi Nai'an (14th century) vs The Adventures of Monkey (Journey to the West) by Wu Cheng'en translated Arthur Waley (16th century/1994)

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Website

Speakers: JoeHostIan DeYoungHostNick ArgyrisHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeAudience≈473 followers

Top entities: Chinese×41 Lin Chong×7 Water Margin×10 Journey to the West×42 Pali Canon×4

Welcome & Listener Challenge0:00 – 0:19

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:00

Hello and welcome to You Don't Know Lit.

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:01

My name is Nick Hargis.

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:02

And this week,

J

JoeHost

0:03

Wayna's looking for some

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:04

Chinese classic

J

JoeHost

0:05

books to help us.

J

JoeHost

0:06

Our two high school English teachers, Ian and Joe.

J

JoeHost

0:09

Thank you, Nick.

J

JoeHost

0:10

Thank you, Ian.

J

JoeHost

0:11

Good morning.

J

JoeHost

0:12

Good morning, Wayna.

J

JoeHost

0:12

Thank you for the recommendation.

J

JoeHost

0:14

Thank you, Wayna.

J

JoeHost

0:15

When Waiter recommended Chinese classics this week.

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ChineseEntitySpoken language
99%41 mentions
Lin ChongEntityFictional character
97%7 mentions
Water MarginBookNovel by Shi Nai'an
94%10 mentions
Journey to the WestBookNovel by Wu Cheng'en
92%42 mentions
Pali CanonBookScripture
90%4 mentions
Zhu BajieEntityMythological character
88%2 mentions
BuddhismEntityReligion
86%13 mentions
The OdysseyMovie2026 film
83%4 mentions
ChinaCountryCountry in East Asia
81%9 mentions
Chinese zodiacEntity
79%6 mentions
IndiaCountryCountry in South Asia
77%4 mentions
Robin HoodEntityMovie character
74%9 mentions
GoogleCompanyTechnology corporation
72%3 mentions
YiEntityDinosaur
70%2 mentions
Hu ShihPersonWriter and former Ambassador of China to the United States
68%11 mentions
Wu Cheng'enPersonChinese novelist and poet
66%4 mentions
William ShakespearePersonEnglish playwright and poet
63%4 mentions
Longevity MonkEntityFictional character
61%4 mentions
The Great Sage, Heaven's EqualBookShort story by Pu Songling
59%2 mentions
The Canterbury TalesBookBook by Geoffrey Chaucer
57%1 mention
Shi Nai'anPersonChinese writer
53%3 mentions
Arthur WaleyPersonEnglish orientalist and sinologist
53%1 mention
East AsiaAdministrative AreaRegion in Asia
50%1 mention
TaoismEntityReligion
48%3 mentions
EnglishEntitySpoken language
46%8 mentions
GoodreadsWebsiteWebsite
43%2 mentions
The Three Little PigsBookFairy tale
41%1 mention
The Rolling StonesMusic GroupRock band
39%2 mentions
Ben AffleckPersonAmerican actor and filmmaker
37%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
34%2 mentions
Song dynastyPlaceDynasty
32%1 mention
Grand marshalEntity
30%1 mention
Crowd LuPersonTaiwanese singer-songwriter and actor
28%1 mention
Imperial guardEntity
26%2 mentions
Infinite JestBookNovel by David Foster Wallace
23%2 mentions
LeopardEntityAnimal
21%1 mention
JapaneseLanguageSpoken language
19%3 mentions
House of LeavesBookNovel by Mark Z. Danielewski
17%1 mention
AriesEntityAstrological sign
14%1 mention
ParmesanEntityCheese
12%1 mention
ChristmasEntityFestival
10%2 mentions
LibraEntityAstrological sign
8%1 mention
GentlemanEntityNoble rank
6%1 mention
Middle EastAdministrative AreaRegion
3%1 mention
Isaac NewtonPersonEnglish polymath and mathematician
1%1 mention

Chinese HistoryHistory
BooksEntertainment
Literary AnalysisEntertainment > Books
Character StudiesEntertainment > Books > Literary Analysis
Literary TraditionsCulture > Chinese Culture
Song DynastyHistory > Chinese History
Cultural DevelopmentsHistory > Chinese History > Song Dynasty
World LiteratureLiterature
Chinese LiteratureLiterature > World Literature
Themes in LiteratureEntertainment > Books > Literary Analysis > Character Studies
Chinese CultureCulture
History
Entertainment
Culture
Literature
Classical LiteratureLiterature > World Literature > Chinese Literature
Water MarginLiterature > World Literature > Chinese Literature > Classical Literature
Journey to the WestLiterature > World Literature > Chinese Literature > Classical Literature
FolkloreCulture > Chinese Culture > Literary Traditions
Epic NarrativesCulture > Chinese Culture > Literary Traditions > Folklore
Literary ContributionsHistory > Chinese History > Song Dynasty > Cultural Developments

Welcome & Listener Challenge0:00 – 0:19

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:00

Hello and welcome to You Don't Know Lit.

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:01

My name is Nick Hargis.

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:02

And this week,

J

JoeHost

0:03

Wayna's looking for some

Nick ArgyrisHost

0:04

Chinese classic

J

JoeHost

0:05

books to help us.

J

JoeHost

0:06

Our two high school English teachers, Ian and Joe.

J

JoeHost

0:09

Thank you, Nick.

J

JoeHost

0:10

Thank you, Ian.

J

JoeHost

0:11

Good morning.

J

JoeHost

0:12

Good morning, Wayna.

J

JoeHost

0:12

Thank you for the recommendation.

J

JoeHost

0:14

Thank you, Wayna.

J

JoeHost

0:15

When Waiter recommended Chinese classics this week.