Xue Baochai

Author: Zhou Yuanbin (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Since the Reform and Opening Up, there has been a genuine climax in the history of Dream of the Red Chamber studies, and the research on Xue Baochai has reached unprecedented heights. The class struggle theory that was prevalent during the Cultural Revolution has been replaced by art, opposing the continued political criticism of Xue Baochai and emphasizing the study of this character from the perspective of the novel's art. The defining feature of research on Xue Baochai during the New Period is its comprehensiveness and depth. Every aspect of Baochai, whether previously studied or not, has been examined during this time. The school of hidden meaning (suoyin) studies, which had been dormant for three decades, has become active again, with Huo Guoling and Huo Jiping gaining prominence through their research articles. The textual research on Xue Baochai has also been particularly vibrant, with scholars such as Feng Qiyong, Wu Shichang, Sun Xun, Zhou Shaoliang, Zhai Shengjian, and Wu Xiaonan expanding the scope of their studies on this character. Works analyzing Xue Baochai from philosophical, sociological, cultural, medical, artistic, culinary, and fashion perspectives have been numerous.
Research on Xue Baochai in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and abroad has been relatively limited, with only some studies and writings appearing in modern and contemporary times. However, these have still made significant contributions, such as Huang Baofang's discussion on the design of the Huanwu Garden, Song Qi's medical research on the Lengxiang Pill, Weng Kaoming's interpretation of the metaphorical change from "green jade" to "green candle" in Xue Baochai's character, and Yan Dongyang's textual evidence that Cao Xueqin's first wife was "Xue Baochai." All of these are contributions to the study of Dream of the Red Chamber.
This book compiles and categorizes valuable viewpoints from the history of Xue Baochai research mentioned above, aiming to provide some benefit to the ongoing studies on this character.