Zhang Dais West Lake Masterpiece | Generated by AI
Question: Which of the following articles was written by Zhang Dai?
Answer:
The correct answer is D. 《西湖七月半》 (Watching the West Lake on the Fifteenth Night of the Seventh Lunar Month).
Detailed Explanation:
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A. 《马伶传》 (Biography of Actor Ma)
Author: Hou Fangyu (侯方域)
This is a famous biographical prose piece from the late Ming–early Qing period, written by one of the “Four Great Essayists of the Ming-Qing Transition” (明末清初四大家). It praises the acting skill and artistic integrity of the famous actor Ma Jing (马伶 / 马锦). -
B. 《香市》 (The Incense Market)
Author: Mao Dun (茅盾)
This is a modern essay (散文) written in 1933 by the famous modern Chinese writer Mao Dun. It describes the decline of the traditional “incense market” in his hometown during the early Republican period and reflects social and economic changes. -
C. 《秋夜》 (Autumn Night)
Author: Lu Xun (鲁迅)
This is one of Lu Xun’s famous prose poems (散文诗) from the collection 《野草》 (Wild Grass), written in 1924. It uses the imagery of an autumn night, date trees, and strange sky to express deep loneliness, resistance, and philosophical reflection. -
D. 《西湖七月半》 (West Lake on the Mid-Seventh Month)
Author: Zhang Dai (张岱)
This is a classic piece from Zhang Dai’s famous collection 《陶庵梦忆》 (Dream Recollections of Tao’an). Zhang Dai (1597–?1679?) was a late-Ming literatus famous for his elegant, nostalgic, and finely observed essays about late-Ming life, gardens, theater, festivals, and West Lake culture. 《西湖七月半》 vividly depicts the festive yet chaotic scene of people viewing the moon and enjoying the night on West Lake during the Mid-Autumn Festival (7th lunar month 15th day), and is one of the most representative works of late-Ming xiaopin wen (小品文).
Conclusion:
Only D is authored by Zhang Dai. Your answer D is correct.
References:
- None (standard literary history knowledge; authorship of these four famous pieces is widely accepted in Chinese literature textbooks and reference works)