"The Story of the Stone Code: Hidden History of the Qing Court"

Author: Su Bangsen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: A Dream of the Red Chamber (The Story of the Stone), a book surrounded by much speculation with no definitive conclusion. The author examines the geographical layout of Ning and Rong Mansions and the routes of the characters in the novel, believing that the setting of Dream of the Red Chamber is the Qing imperial palace and inner court during the reigns of Kangxi and Shunzhi. Further supported by historical facts, the author concludes that this novel depicts the hidden history of the Qing court. The "Jade of Spiritual Communication" (Tongling Bao) is the imperial seal of the nation. The "Wildland Rubble Stone" (Yuan Xi) alludes to Empress Xiaozhuang as the bloodline heir of the Yuan Emperor. The "Jade of Spiritual Communication" (Qing Xi) alludes to Empress Xiaozhuang as the wife of Emperor Taizong of the Qing. Emperor Shunzhi is the divine messenger of the "Void of Emptiness" (Qianqing Palace and the Winter Palace Beihai). The Crimson Pearl Grass alludes to all the revolutionary women in Emperor Shunzhi's harem, with Dong E's Imperial Consort, who died young at the age of 22 ("fragrance and jade perished"), as the foremost example. The Twelve Beauties of Jinling (the main register) alludes to seven women in Emperor Shunzhi's harem. The first is Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang (Yuanchun, Qin Keqing, Wang Xifeng). The second is the deposed Empress Jingfei (Xue Baochai). The third is the posthumously honored Empress Xiaoxian Duanjing (Lin Daiyu). The fourth is the daughter of Dorgon (Jia Zheng, Jia Lian) and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang (Wang Furen, Fengjie) (Tanchun and Qiaojie). The fifth is the daughter of Kong Youde and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's adopted daughter Kong Sizhen (Shi Xiangyun, Miaoyu, and Xichun). The sixth is the fourteenth daughter of Emperor Taizong (Yingchun). The seventh is Empress Tongjia, the mother of Emperor Kangxi (Li Yun). This book examines the geographical layout of Ning and Rong Mansions and the routes of the characters in the novel, believing that the setting of Dream of the Red Chamber is the Qing imperial palace and inner court during the reigns of Kangxi and Shunzhi. Further supported by historical facts, the author concludes that this novel depicts the hidden history of the Qing court.