Articles
Four Great Classic Novels Exhibition (2026)
The National Library Board's planned December 2026 exhibition with the National Library of China will present the Four Great Classic Novels through rare historical artefacts, bilingual interpretation and immersive digital experiences.
Four Great Classic Novels Exhibition (2026)
The National Library Board (NLB) plans to present an exhibition on the Four Great Classic Novels of Chinese literature at National Library Singapore, with the planned opening in December 2026. The announcement describes an exhibition combining rare historical artefacts with immersive experiences; the opening date is planned, not evidence that the exhibition is already open (NLB, 23 August 2026; gov.sg, 26 August 2026).
Content and presentation
The exhibition will cover Journey to the West, Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Dream of the Red Chamber. NLB says the presentation will be in English and Chinese, with interactive digital installations intended to take visitors into the story worlds of the four works. This is an exhibition about literary history and cultural interpretation, not a claim that the novels were written in Singapore or that their historical settings are Singaporean (NLB, 23 August 2026).
Artefacts and Singapore connection
The exhibition is a collaboration between NLB and the National Library of China. NLB's announcement says loans will include early editions, woodblock prints and opera scripts, including items dating from the 17th to 19th centuries and Chinese Tier 1 cultural relics; it describes some materials as being shown outside China for the first time. The exhibition will also draw on National Library Singapore's own collection to show Singapore's connection with the four classics. The final object list, visitor arrangements and programme details were not established in the 23 August announcement (NLB, 23 August 2026).
Record details
- Also known as
- ["Four Great Classic Novels exhibition","四大名著 exhibition","NLB classical Chinese literature exhibition"]
- Jurisdiction
- SG
Dates describe this record’s own period and applicability. A verification date does not mean a rule is currently in force.
Sources
- NLB — First look at National Library Singapore's Exhibition on the Four Great Classic Novels Accessed 2026-08-30
- gov.sg — National Day Rally 2026 Accessed 2026-08-30
Collection as of 2026-10-07 · An expanding collection. Published counts show available knowledge, not complete coverage of Singapore.