Modern Social Science Research

Adhering to the academic mission of "studying the classical literature, reflecting on traditional culture, and constructing modern civilization," this article systematically analyzes the intrinsic connection between the study of classical fiction and the development of modern civilization through a three-dimensional framework: academic mandate, textual deconstruction, and cultural logic. The article posits that the contemporary significance of classical fiction is manifested in three primary aspects. First, regarding academic responsibility, it emphasizes that researchers must possess an ultimate concern for contemporary reality and dismantle the uncritical veneration of classical canons. Second, through textual reshaping, it unveils the "collective authorship" attribute of masterpieces such as The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, thereby deconstructing their sacralized popular value and critiquing the lag in national consciousness formed during their protracted dissemination. Finally, in terms of cultural logic, the article provides a profound analysis of the aberrant mechanism of "morality suppressing wisdom" within traditional contexts. Using Zhuge Liang as a "specimen of obedience," it explores the long-term constraints imposed by autocratic culture on the growth of national intellect. Through this academic reflection, a paradigmatic shift in the evaluative system of classical fiction—from "entertainment and textual criticism" toward "intellectual enlightenment"—is identified, offering theoretical references and empirical insights for advancing modern civilization through literary scholarship.

Classical fiction; Modern interpretation; Cultural reflection; Civilization construction