Dream of the Red Chamber - Illustrated Edition

Author: Cao Xueqin (Qing Dynasty), Gao E
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-01
Features: "Returning to Zhen Shi Yin's Dream to Recognize the Spiritual Jade and Jia Yuancun's Dust and Dust to Cherish the Gentlewoman—This is the Opening Chapter." The author himself said, "After experiencing a series of dreams, I have hidden the truth and borrowed the legend of the 'Stone Story' to write this book, hence the name 'Zhen Shi Yin' and so on." But what events and people are recorded in the book? He also said, "Now, I am busy and have achieved nothing. Suddenly remembering the women I once knew, I carefully examine their actions and insights, only to find that they are all superior to me. My male pride is truly inferior to them. I am full of shame but regret is useless, and there is nothing I can do about it. On this day, I want to compile a collection of the past, thanking the blessings of heaven and ancestors, the days of fine robes and luxurious life, and the debts of education from my parents and brothers, as well as the teachings of teachers and friends, to make up for my current lack of skills and half-life of misfortune. I will compile a collection to tell the world: although I am guilty of many faults, there are many women in the inner circles who are vividly recorded. It is absolutely not acceptable for me to be unworthy and to hide my shortcomings, causing them to be forgotten as well. Therefore, even in a humble cottage with straw beds and earthen pots, it is not enough to hinder my spirit. Moreover, the morning winds and evening moons, the steps of willows and the flowers in the courtyard, make my writing even more nourishing. Although I am unlearned and unlettered, what is the harm in using fictional words to narrate it? It can also make the women of the inner circles known to the world, and can also break the boredom of the time and awaken the eyes of those who share the same passion. Isn't that appropriate? Hence the name 'Jia Yuancun' and so on." He also used words like "dream" and "illusion" in the text, which is the essence of this book and also serves as a reminder to the readers. Sir, you ask, where does this book come from? Although it may seem absurd, it is quite interesting to delve into it. It is said that when the goddess Nüwa was refining stones to repair the sky, she forged thirty-six thousand, five hundred and one large, square stones, each twelve feet high and twenty-four feet long, on the Wuxi Peak of the Great Wilderness. The goddess used thirty-six thousand, five hundred stones, leaving only one unused and abandoning it at the foot of Qinggang Peak. Who knew that after being refined, the stone's spirit was awakened, and it could move freely, changing size. Seeing that all the other stones were chosen to repair the sky, the stone felt resentful and ashamed, grieving day and night. One day, as he was lamenting, he suddenly saw a monk and a Taoist priest approaching from afar, with extraordinary appearances and spirits. They sat on the ground and talked near Qinggang Peak. Seeing the bright and clear stone, which had shrunk to the size of a fan, they found it very lovely. The monk held the stone in his palm and smiled, saying, "The shape is indeed a spiritual object, but it lacks substance. It must be carved with a few characters so that everyone can recognize it as a rare treasure. Then take it to a prosperous land of poetry and literature, a family of scholars and officials, a place of flowers and willows, and a land of tenderness and wealth." The stone was overjoyed and asked, "What characters should be carved? Where should I go? Please enlighten me." The monk smiled and said, "Don't ask now, you will understand later." With that, he tucked the stone into his sleeve and left with the Taoist priest, vanishing into the unknown. Who knew how many lifetimes and calamities passed, when a monk named Kong Kong, seeking the Tao and immortality, passed by Qinggang Peak on the Wuxi Peak of the Great Wilderness. Suddenly, he saw a large stone with clear inscriptions, narrating a story in detail. The monk read it from beginning to end and found that it was a stone that had no talent to repair the sky, had taken the form of a human in the mortal world, and had been taken by the boundless immortal and the vast immortal into the mortal world and led to the other shore. The stone described the land of decline, the place of reincarnation, as well as family affairs and the leisure of women, poetry, and riddles, which were all complete. However, the dynasties and years were lost. At the end, there was a verse:
"Without talent to repair the sky,
Wasted years in the mortal world.
This is the story of life and death,
Who will record it as a rare tale?"
Kong Kong read it over and realized that the stone had a certain origin. He said to the stone, "Brother Stone, your story, as you say, has some interest, so it is carved here to be heard by the world. In my opinion: First, there is no record of dynasties and years; second, there are no great sages or loyal ministers, no wise policies to govern the court or reform customs. It only contains a few extraordinary women, some sentimental, some foolish, or with small talents and minor virtues. Even if I copy it, it cannot be considered a rare book." The stone replied, "Why must my teacher be so foolish? I think that the wild histories of the past were all borrowed from the names of the Han and Tang dynasties. It would be better if the stone's story did not follow this pattern and only recorded its own events and logic, which would be fresh and unique. Moreover, in the wild histories, there were many slanders against the emperor and ministers, or the depreciation of women, with countless acts of adultery and evil. There were also many lewd and filthy writings that were harmful to young people. As for the books about talented scholars and beautiful women, they always opened with 'Wenjun' and filled the pages with 'Zijian,' with the same style and appearance, and could not avoid being lewd. The author only wanted to write a few love poems and beautiful songs, so they made up names for two men and women and added a small character to create chaos, like a clown in a play. Even more annoying was the use of 'zhi, hu, ye, zhe,' which was either illogical or literary, far from the truth, and self-contradictory. It would be better than my half-life of personal experience with a few women, though I dare not say they are better than those in the books of the past, but their deeds and origins can still relieve boredom and break the monotony; as for a few crooked poems, they can be used to laugh and drink. The joys and sorrows, the rise and fall, are all recorded according to the traces, without any exaggeration to lose the truth. I hope that when people are drunk or awake, or when they want to avoid trouble and relieve their worries, they will read this book. Not only will it refresh their minds, but it will also save some of their energy and not lead them to chase illusions. What do you think?"
Kong Kong listened and thought for a while, then re-examined the 'Stone Story' again. Seeing that the main idea was just about love and that it was a true record without any harm to the times or encouragement of lust, he copied it from beginning to end and made it known to the world. From then on, Kong Kong, seeing the void and seeing color, generating emotions from color, transmitting emotions through color, and realizing the void through color, changed his name to 'Emotion Monk' and changed the 'Stone Story' to 'Emotion Monk's Record.' Master Kong Meixi of Donglu wrote the title 'Mirror of Wind and Moon.' Later, Cao Xueqin, while reviewing in the Red Memorial Pavilion, spent ten years reviewing and revising five times, compiling a table of contents and dividing it into chapters, and wrote a poem. This is the origin of the 'Stone Story.' The poem goes:
"All the words in the book are absurd,
A handful of bitter tears.
They say the author is foolish,
Who can understand the taste?"
The origin of the 'Stone Story' is now clear, but it is unknown what people and events are recorded on the stone. Please listen, sir.