Dream of the Red Chamber: An Autobiography of Zhou Ruchang

Author: Zhou Ruchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The essence of Mr. Zhou Ruchang's autobiography can be summarized in the four words "A World Within a Dream." "A World Within a Dream" is a pun: it can refer to Mr. Zhou's life's work on Dream of the Red Chamber and its inexhaustible charm, as well as to the complex and multifaceted flavors of life—full of twists, turns, bitterness, and sweetness. Mr. Zhou was a renowned expert in the study of Dream of the Red Chamber, but his diverse artistic talents and achievements far exceeded the scope of the term "red scholar." His life can be described as one that grew in harmony with the beauty of Chinese language and culture. His "limitless passion" reflects his tireless spirit. His autobiography records the growth of a scholar of pure and simple nature, and it is needless to say that it contains a wealth of firsthand materials on modern academic history, especially the history of red studies, which are of great significance and worth cherishing. As for the passages where Mr. Zhou recalls his teachers and friends throughout his life, they reflect his gratitude and remembrance of his origins, making them a particularly noteworthy part of the book.