Lin Daiyu -- A Hundred Voices on the Figures of the Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Ren Minghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Lin Daiyu is the central female character in Dream of the Red Chamber. As the counterpart to the "flawless jade" in the "wood and stone love story," Lin Daiyu is widely known in China and even captivates many. With the spread of Dream of the Red Chamber worldwide, this image has become increasingly understood by people of different races and cultures. Her beauty, her intelligence, her innocence, her tears, her tragic fate, and even her illness are all seen as forms of beauty by her admirers. Yet, there are those who admire and even worship Lin Daiyu, yet think that if such a beauty truly existed, they would not or dare not marry her. This paradox seems unreasonable yet vividly illustrates that, in the eyes of many readers and scholars, Lin Daiyu is like a profound and misty poem, an inscrutable mystery. This volume compiles excerpts of the perceptions and views on the image of Lin Daiyu formed over more than two hundred years by red scholars and enthusiasts, covering the following aspects:
1. Hidden Meaning Studies.
2. Moral Evaluation.
3. Typical Connotation.
4. Aesthetic Criticism.
In summary, the evaluation and study of Lin Daiyu are clearly influenced by the trends of the times. The overall trend is to transition her from a real person to an artistic figure, then to a cultural symbol, and increasingly to deeper exploration. However, the study of any character in Dream of the Red Chamber cannot be conducted in isolation.