“四大名著”全称“四大古典文学名著”是“四大奇书”的现代说法，时间自然也不会早了。因此，“四大名著”（四大奇书）的提法一定是出现在《红楼梦》成书之后。
相较于“奇书”，“名著”的称呼更有文化意味，更强调在文化上的成就，四大名著不是某个人定下来的，而是在流传过程中广大读者研究、解读、衡量后评定出来的，四大名著承载了许多文化精华，在潜移默化中对许多人的思维智慧、为人处世方式产生了影响，对往后社会思潮、社会风气、政治生态变化有着深远影响。
中国的四大名著公认为：《三国演义》（罗贯中）、《水浒传》（施耐庵）、《西游记》（吴承恩）、《红楼梦》（曹雪芹）；（是上世纪50年代人民文学出版社出版这四部名著的时候定名为“四大名著”，从此定名）。
The "four famous" full name "four big classical literature" is "the four masterpieces" of the modern view, time will not be the natural early. Therefore,the "four famous" (four books) formulation must be appeared in the "a dream of Red Mansions" into a Book after.
Compared to the "writing", "call more cultural meaning of classics", moreemphasis on cultural achievements four classic is not a person to settle down,but in the process of circulating readers research, interpretation, measuredafter the assessment, the four famous hosts a number of cultural essence,imperceptibly to many human thinking wisdom, Weirenchushi way influence,has the profound influence on the later social ideological trend, socialatmosphere, change of political ecology.
China's four famous recognized as: "the romance of the Three Kingdoms" (Luo Guanzhong), "the Water Margin" (Shi Naian), "journey to the west" (Wu Chengen), "a dream of Red Mansions" (Cao Xueqin); (is the last century 50'sthe people's Literature Publishing House of the four classics of the time known as the "four famous". From the name).
