Tumuerhe Red Chamber History Lectures

Author: Tu Mo Re
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The Kangxi Emperor made six southern tours, and Yangzhou, Nanjing, and Hangzhou were all essential destinations. Some may ask, how can you conclude that the scenes depicted in Dream of the Red Chamber are from the third southern tour? This is because during the Kangxi Emperor's tours, he visited other places repeatedly, but Hangzhou Xixi was visited only once. The scene of Yuan Chun's imperial visit in Dream of the Red Chamber is so unique that the scenery of Grand View Garden is identical to that of Xixi, and the process of the imperial visit is exactly the same as the Kangxi Emperor's visit. It differs significantly from his other southern tours and visits to other places. Therefore, we can confidently deduce that Dream of the Red Chamber depicts this visit and no other!
Xixi is vast, with numerous attractions, and the sites visited by the Kangxi Emperor were only a part of them. Have you noticed that in the scene where Baoyu inscribes inscriptions for Grand View Garden and the scene where Yuan Chun tours the garden, Dream of the Red Chamber mentions the future residences of the sisters; however, later in the book, places like "Tubiting Hall" and "Aojing Pavilion" are introduced without prior mention. Why? Because the Kangxi Emperor did not visit these sites, so Dream of the Red Chamber does not describe them during Yuan Chun's imperial visit. These unmentioned sites in the book also have prototypes in Xixi. "Tubiting Hall" likely corresponds to Feng Mengzhen's "Xixi Mountain Hall," named as such because its location is relatively high. During the Kangxi Emperor's southern tour, Feng Yunjiang (or Feng Qianqiu, his grandson) lived there, and the tragic story of Feng Xiaojing's abuse and death occurred in his family. Dream of the Red Chamber uses Feng Xiaojing's famous lines: "Slender shadow reflects on spring water, you must pity me as I pity you."
The prototype of "Aojing Pavilion" is Wang Ranming's "Xixi Water Pavilion." Wang Ranming was a generous and celebrated figure, known as the "Yellow Robe Hero," who sheltered or supported many down-and-out scholars and wandering courtesans. Due to its low-lying terrain and a large pond, the pavilion offered a tranquil and serene environment with the play of light and water. It was where Wang Ranming entertained visiting scholars and ladies, where boats were hidden in the pond, allowing guests to cool off by the water's edge or conveniently board boats to other Xixi attractions. Hence, "Aojing Pavilion" was named in Dream of the Red Chamber. The famous Ming Dynasty courtesan poet Liu Rushi and Huang Jie Ling once resided long-term in "Xixi Water Pavilion" and often recited poetry by its pond. Their works were published with financial support from Wang Ranming.
In Dream of the Red Chamber, Zhao Ma says the Zhen family hosted the emperor four times, while Wang Xifeng mentions the Wang family preparing to host him once. Chronologically, neither aligns with the Qing Dynasty! If not the Qing Dynasty, then the Ming Dynasty? Not quite. The Ming Emperor Zhengde was known for his southern tours, but that was too long ago—likely before Zhao Ma's grandfather was even born. Chronologically, the decades Zhao Ma refers to would correspond to the late Ming Dynasty under Emperor Chongzhen, but this unfortunate deposed ruler was so preoccupied with war that he never stepped outside Beijing during his reign.
P12-13