Revealing the Dream of the Red Chamber by Liu Xinwu (Part 1)

Author: Liu Xinwu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: A nation's immortal soul, passed down through generations, manifests in various forms across endless time and space. One of the most important manifestations is in its classic texts written in its mother tongue. Just as Shakespeare and his plays are to the British, Cao Xueqin and Dream of the Red Chamber are an integral part of the immortal soul of our Chinese nation. Reading and discussing Dream of the Red Chamber holds immeasurable significance in inheriting and elevating the national soul. Starting with the study of Qin Keqing's archetype, to reveal the political power struggles between the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns behind the text of Dream of the Red Chamber—this is not my ultimate goal. I regard the study of Qin Keqing as a breakthrough, like opening a window that reveals the inner scene, stepping over a threshold that leads to the depths, and grasping a key that can unlock a giant lock, to enter the majestic palace of Dream of the Red Chamber, to admire its grandeur, and to comprehend its infinite mysteries. —Liu Xinwu
This book is a written compilation of Liu Xinwu, a renowned writer, from his lecture on Red Studies on CCTV-10's One Hundred Lectures Platform. It is also the culmination of the author's years of research on Dream of the Red Chamber. Starting with Qin Keqing from the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, he meticulously examines the life prototypes of the characters in the book and reconstructs the era's atmosphere at the time of Dream of the Red Chamber's creation. When the program was broadcast, it received an excellent response from the audience. For a time, Liu Xinwu's new interpretation of Dream of the Red Chamber became a widely discussed and popular topic. At the same time, it was precisely the enthusiasm of the audience for the program that led to the publication of this book.