Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Cao Xueqin / Gao E (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: This book is a great work of high ideological and artistic significance. From the ideological tendencies reflected in the book, the author demonstrates preliminary democratic thoughts. He critically examines the darkness of the real society, including the court and official circles, the corruption of the feudal aristocratic class and their families, the feudal imperial examination system, marriage system, servant system, and hierarchical system. He also critiques the corresponding social ruling ideology, such as Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, as well as social moral concepts. Furthermore, he proposes faint yet preliminary democratic ideals and (propositions/advocacies) that reflect the subtle influence of the budding capitalist economic factors emerging at the time.