Dream of the Red Chamber - TheCommentary of Lipan Zhai (Complete Two Volumes)

Author: (Qing) Cao Xueqin / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: "A wild tale, a heartbroken sigh! Though all say the author is mad, who understands the depth of it?" A household name, Dream of the Red Chamber is a testament to Cao Xueqin's life's work. The novel, centered on the tragic love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, weaves the rise and fall of the Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue families. With vivid characters and a poignant love story, it is an endless, ever-reminiscent classic. The edition is based on one of the eleven extant ancient manuscripts of Dream of the Red Chamber, the most complete and authentically preserved version of Cao Xueqin's lifetime revision. It not only allows readers to appreciate the original manuscript's true form but also offers direct access to over 2,100 precious annotations left by the author's "red ink confidante," Lypingzhai, on the Gengchen manuscript, possessing unique artistic appreciation value, academic research value, and version preservation value.
The establishment of classical masterpieces in Chinese literary history is, of course, primarily due to their unique charm. However, it is also greatly related to the efforts of numerous insightful novel critics who rigorously analyzed and commented on these works after their publication. Names like Li Zhuo, Jin Shengtan, Mao Zonggang, and Lypingzhai are closely associated with Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber in people's minds. They not only pioneered a new era in the history of Chinese classical novel criticism but also enabled readers to delve deeper into the essence and charm of these classics through their critiques. Lypingzhai, in particular, is inextricably linked with Dream of the Red Chamber. From his annotations, it is evident that Lypingzhai had a close relationship with Cao Xueqin, though their exact connection remains debated, with various theories ranging from them being the same person to Lypingzhai being the prototype for Shi Xiangyun in the novel, or simply close friends. Regardless of who Lypingzhai was, his critiques of Dream of the Red Chamber undeniably added brilliance to the already splendid Grand View Garden, captivating readers even more and leaving later generations with more speculations and imaginations about the fates of the characters after the eighty chapters.
"A wild tale, a heartbroken sigh! Though all say the author is mad, who understands the depth of it?" A household name, Dream of the Red Chamber is a testament to Cao Xueqin's life's work. The novel, centered on the tragic love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, weaves the rise and fall of the Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue families. With vivid characters and a poignant love story, it is an endless, ever-reminiscent classic. The edition is based on one of the eleven extant ancient manuscripts of Dream of the Red Chamber, the most complete and authentically preserved version of Cao Xueqin's lifetime revision. It not only allows readers to appreciate the original manuscript's true form but also offers direct access to over 2,100 precious annotations left by the author's "red ink confidante," Lypingzhai, on the Gengchen manuscript, possessing unique artistic appreciation value, academic research value, and version preservation value.
The establishment of classical masterpieces in Chinese literary history is, of course, primarily due to their unique charm. However, it is also greatly related to the efforts of numerous insightful novel critics who rigorously analyzed and commented on these works after their publication. Names like Li Zhuo, Jin Shengtan, Mao Zonggang, and Lypingzhai are closely associated with Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber in people's minds. They not only pioneered a new era in the history of Chinese classical novel criticism but also enabled readers to delve deeper into the essence and charm of these classics through their critiques. Lypingzhai, in particular, is inextricably linked with Dream of the Red Chamber. From his annotations, it is evident that Lypingzhai had a close relationship with Cao Xueqin, though their exact connection remains debated, with various theories ranging from them being the same person to Lypingzhai being the prototype for Shi Xiangyun in the novel, or simply close friends. Regardless of who Lypingzhai was, his critiques of Dream of the Red Chamber undeniably added brilliance to the already splendid Grand View Garden, captivating readers even more and leaving later generations with more speculations and imaginations about the fates of the characters after the eighty chapters.
That day, Lin Ruhai taught his daughter to cherish fortune and maintain health, saying, "After meals, make sure to finish swallowing all the rice before drinking tea, otherwise it will harm your stomach." This subtly portrays Lin Ruhai's scholarly demeanor. Brilliant! Now, Daiyu saw many things in the house that didn't match her family's customs and had to adapt, changing them one by one. Thus, she accepted the tea, and soon someone brought a rinse basin. Daiyu rinsed her mouth in the same way. Then, after finishing hand-washing, tea was served again, and only then did she drink it. This briefly illustrates the small details of Daiyu's life after arriving.
Grandmother Jia said, "You may leave now. Let us chat in peace." Upon hearing this, Lady Wang quickly rose and chatted for a few more words before leading Li and Feng away. Grandmother Jia then asked Daiyu what books she was reading. Daiyu replied, "I just finished reading the Four Books." Excellent! The storyteller is particularly skilled at using the phrase "possessing the knowledge of five carts of books" to describe her.
Daiyu then asked her sisters what books they were reading. Grandmother Jia said, "What books are they reading? They can only recognize two characters, and aren't just blind people who can't see." Before she could finish, she heard footsteps outside the courtyard. This contrasted with the arrival of A-Feng without overlapping. A maid entered and laughed, saying, "Baoyu is here." I was pleased.
Daiyu was puzzled in her heart: This Baoyu, what kind of foolish and lazy character is he? His words don't match his actions, and he lacks the essence of the main narrative. This should come from the Records of the State Council. A foolish and unruly child?—If only he weren't such a fool! But this fool isn't the fool, yet he has an even greater fool to deal with—how brilliant! Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly saw a young gentleman enter before the maid had even finished speaking.
He wore a purple gold hairpin with embedded jewels, tied at his brow with a gold ribbon adorned with two dragons fighting for a pearl. He wore a two-colored gold robe with a hundred butterflies in flower patterns, tied with a long, colorful silk knot at the waist. Over it, he wore a blue silk robe with eight floral patterns, edged with a row of pendants. On his feet were small court boots with white soles. His face was like the full moon of autumn, his complexion like the flowers of spring dawn, his temples sharp as if cut by a knife, his eyebrows dark as ink, his eyes like peach petals, and his eyes bright as autumn waves. Though angry, he seemed to smile; though scolding, he showed kindness. Truly a masterful description.
Around his neck was a gold dragon bracelet, and he wore a five-colored silk ribbon tied to a precious jade. Daiyu, upon seeing him, was greatly startled. Strange! She thought to herself, "How strange, it seems as if I've met him before. His face is so familiar!" Indeed. She must have met him on the banks of the Spirit River at the edge of the Three-Life Stone in a past life.
Seeing Baoyu kowtow to Grandmother Jia, she ordered, "Go see your mother." Baoyu turned and left. After a short while, he returned, already changed into different attire. His short hair was tied into small braids, tied with red silk at the top, where his natural hair was gathered into a single long braid, shiny as lacquer. Four large pearls dangled from his forehead to his chin, with a gold eight-jewel pendant at the end. He wore a worn silver and red floral robe, still adorned with his jade pendant, name lock, and protective charm. Below, his loose blue and floral silk pants exposed the cuffs of his ink-black silk socks, with embroidered edges. He wore thick red boots. All this made his face even more pale and rosy, his lips like painted lips, his gaze full of emotion, and his words always accompanied by laughter. His natural charm lay in his eyebrows, while his lifetime of thoughts were all gathered in his eyes. Though his appearance was excellent, his true nature remained unknown.
Later generations composed two couplets of West River Moon to critique Baoyu, which were particularly fitting. The verses read:
> "Without reason, he seeks sorrow and grief,
> Sometimes seeming foolish or mad.
> Though born with a fine appearance,
> His mind is like a field of grass.
> Unskilled in worldly affairs,
> He fears reading literature.
> His behavior is eccentric,
> Ignoring the world's slander!
> Rich but unaware of joy,
> Poor but unable to endure sorrow.
> Alas, he wastes his fine youth,
> Hopeless for his country and family.
> The most incapable in the world,
> The most unworthy in ancient times.
> To the rich and noble:
> Do not imitate this boy's ways!"
Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Before the guests arrive, you've already taken off your clothes. Go see your sister!" Baoyu had already noticed the new sister and, guessing she was Lin's mother's daughter, quickly bowed in greeting. After the greeting, he sat down and took a closer look at her appearance, which was unique among the others:
> "Two crescent-shaped eyebrows, as if frowning yet not frowning,
> Extraordinary! Brilliant! Original!
> Two eyes, as if smiling yet not smiling,
> Extraordinary! Brilliant! Original!
> A sorrowful expression on her cheeks, delicate and ill,
> Tears glistening, breath faint.
> At rest, like a delicate flower reflecting water,
> In motion, like a weak willow swaying in the wind."
These eight lines are how Baoyu sees her.
> "Her heart is one more clever than Bi Gan's,
> This is how Baoyu sees her in his heart.
> Her illness is three times better than Xi Shi's,
> These ten lines are the definitive judgment,
> Reaching the level of a prose piece."
Baoyu smiled and said, "What does this sentence mean?" "This sister, I have seen her before." Madness. She shares the same heart as Daiyu, yet her words are different. Seeing this, one knows that Yuqing's heart is open—she speaks what she thinks, without any hesitation.
Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "How can you be so foolish? Have you ever seen her before?" Baoyu replied, "Though I haven't seen her before, I find her face familiar, and in my heart, I consider her an old acquaintance. Upon meeting her, I spoke as I did. It's not unreasonable for Lady Wang to call me mad and foolish. Today, we might as well treat it as a long-awaited reunion." How brilliant! Such extraordinary words! He speaks as if this were the case, which is why people call him mad and foolish. He speaks like a child, deceiving the world as well.
P32-34