FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award-Winning Publication Design Brings New Life to China's Four Great Classical Novels with Modern Craft and Critique

Xu Tang, a renowned Chinese book designer, has unveiled a groundbreaking edition of The Four Great Chinese Novels, released in April 2023 in Beijing. This innovative publication design breaks away from traditional approaches by incorporating a critic's viewpoint, offering readers a fresh lens through which to explore the legendary tales of Dream of the Red Chamber, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, and Water Margin. The set's distinctive split double-bookcase design, featuring a one-centimeter gap that hints at the inner cover's artwork, invites readers to experience the classics as if peering through a slightly opened door, heightening intrigue and engagement.

Drawing inspiration from iconic scenes within each novel, Xu Tang's design transforms the bookcases into visual narratives: a red lion-headed door for Dream of the Red Chamber, flying arrows for Romance of the Three Kingdoms, celestial clouds for Journey to the West, and rebellious flags for Water Margin. The craftsmanship combines specialty paper, Pantone spot color printing, partial hot stamping, and sturdy hardcover packaging, resulting in a collectible set that is both visually stunning and functionally robust. The inclusion of critiques from renowned scholars enriches the content, providing readers with deeper insights and a more comprehensive understanding of these timeless works.

The project, which began in January 2023 and culminated in its official release in April, is the result of extensive research into over a century of previous editions. Xu Tang's approach blends tradition with modernity, simplicity with depth, and leverages a grid system and dual-color printing to enhance readability. The design's success has been recognized with the Silver A' Print and Published Media Design Award in 2025, a testament to its outstanding innovation, technical mastery, and its ability to evoke wonder and admiration among readers and critics alike.

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