Dream of the Red Chamber: Illustrated Text

Author: Wang Jian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The art of Chinese (picture scrolls) dates back to the Western Han Dynasty. It matured after the widespread use of lithography in the late Qing Dynasty. After the 1930s, influenced by the techniques of sound films, "living" —picture scrolls with speaking mouths—began to appear in large numbers, and their themes became increasingly diverse, appealing to a broad readership, including adults. Among these, the most influential works were those based on classic literature, especially Ming and Qing Dynasty novels. The linguistic artistry of Dream of the Red Chamber represents the pinnacle of China's classical novel language. The author often needed only a few words to sketch vivid characters with distinct personalities. Every typical character's language in the novel has its own unique individuality, enabling readers to distinguish characters solely based on their speech. The author's narrative language also demonstrates high artistic expression. The poetry, lyrics, quatrains, and fu in the novel not only blend seamlessly with the narrative but also serve to shape the characters' personalities, achieving the ideal of "poetry reflecting the person." Due to these outstanding achievements, Dream of the Red Chamber possesses a fresh and original character both in its ideological content and artistic techniques. It has an enduring artistic charm, making it stand out in the world of literature without any inferiority.