Illustrated Edition · New Interpretation of Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Fu Guangming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: "A chaotic scroll of words, a handful of bitter tears. Though all say the author is mad, who can fathom the meaning within?" The endless "Dream of the Red Chamber," the innumerable interpretations of Cao Xueqin. Since the completion of "Dream of the Red Chamber," over two hundred years have passed, yet the "words" of Cao Xueqin and the "flavor" of the novel remain subjective, with each scholar offering their own theories. Many redologists have dedicated their lives to "creating a unique interpretation," yet no definitive conclusion has been reached. Over a century of redological debates have left many mysteries far from being clarified, not solved but rather shrouded in more confusion. Even fundamental questions, such as whether "Dream of the Red Chamber" was indeed written by Cao Xueqin, remain debated. Further, where was Cao Xueqin from? Was he Han or Manchu? In what year was he born? How old did he live to be? Which dynasty does "Dream of the Red Chamber" depict? According to the "Revised Stone Story by Shi Yan's Studio," the manuscript of "Dream of the Red Chamber" was completed in 110 chapters, yet why were the last 30 chapters lost? Were the last 40 chapterswritten by Gao E? Is Shi Yan male or female? What was the relationship between Cao Xueqin, Shi Yan, and Ji He's Studio? There is a long list of questions surrounding "Dream of the Red Chamber." The China Modern Literature Museum invited three generations of redologists—Fu Qiyong, Zhou Ruchang, Wang Meng, Cai Yijiang, Li Xifan, Sun Yuming, Hu Deping, and others—to give lectures at the museum, offering new interpretations of "Dream of the Red Chamber" and exploring many of these mysteries. This book is a collection of these lectures, featuring twelve topics that help readers appreciate "Dream of the Red Chamber" more deeply and discover its profound meanings.