明清描写家庭兴衰的长篇章回小说有六部 :《金瓶梅》、《醒世姻缘传》、《林兰香》、《红楼梦》、《歧路灯》、《蜃楼志》。这一系列的作品分三个创作阶段 :明朝中后期作品 ,比较均衡地描写家庭上升期的盛况与家庭衰落时的衰败荒凉 ;明清之际和清前期作品 ,略述发家过程 ,详写衰亡过程 ;清中期作品 ,详写家庭走向衰亡的过程以及衰亡原因。从作品结构上可以分为昔日繁盛永不再来与绝处逢生两大类。这一题材的流变包含着丰富的文化意蕴 ,体现了小说作家深切关注社会现实的创作心态 ,揭示了封建社会后期整个社会处于没落状态的悲凉的时代氛围 Ming and Qing dynasties describe the rise and fall of the family has six long chapter novels: “Jin Ping Mei”, “Awakening Marriage”, “Lin Lan Hong”, “Dream of Red Mansions”, “Qu Qi Lamp”, “mirage Chi.” This series of works consists of three stages of creation: the works in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, a more balanced description of the ups and downs of the family as well as the decay and desolation of the family decline; the works of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the early Qing Dynasty, The process of decay; the works of the mid-Qing dynasty, detailing the process of family decline and the causes of demise. From the structure of the works can be divided into the past never prosperous and never survive two major categories. The rheology of this subject contains rich cultural connotation, embodies the author’s novel mentality of paying close attention to the social reality and reveals the gloomy era atmosphere in which society as a whole is in decline in the later period of feudal society