Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber (New Curriculum Standard Reading Series)

Author: Wang Shifu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: To comprehensively improve the Chinese literacy of primary and secondary school students, enhance the modern awareness of teaching materials, and vigorously promote new learning methods, the Ministry of Education issued the "Full-time Compulsory Education Chinese Curriculum Standards" and the "General High School Chinese Curriculum Standards" as core content of the basic education curriculum reform in 2001 and 2003, respectively. The "Chinese Curriculum Standards" serve as the basis for teaching, assessment, and examination question setting, as well as the foundation for national curriculum management and evaluation, reflecting the fundamental requirements of the state for students at different stages in terms of knowledge, skills, processes, and methods. Compared to the original "Chinese Teaching Syllabus" for primary and secondary schools, the "Chinese Curriculum Standards" have made significant revisions to the specific titles of extracurricular reading materials in the original syllabus and have stipulated the total amount of reading required for students at different stages, urging primary and secondary school students to read widely. For this purpose, we have compiled and published this series of "New Curriculum Standards Chinese Reading Series," with all book titles designated by the new standards. To assist students in reading, we have included an introductory essay before each classic, providing an in-depth yet accessible introduction to the book. "The Story of the Western Chamber" is a classic in the history of Chinese literature. Some compare it to "Dream of the Red Chamber," calling them the two peaks and twin pillars of Chinese literary history, which is quite reasonable. "The Story of the Western Chamber" praises love and also celebrates the spirit of fighting against feudal forces to achieve ideals. The old lady in the play is a typical feudal patriarch. Before her husband's death, she held the position of Prime Minister (Chancellor) and, after his passing, she not only had to uphold the reputation of the Prime Minister's family but also consider the happiness of her children. She loves her daughter, always thinking of Cui Yingying.