Dream of the Red Chamber (Volumes 1 and 2) (1)

Author: Cao Xueqin et al. (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Dream of the Red Chamber is set against the backdrop of the four great families—Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue—and follows the tragic love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu as its main thread. It depicts the rise and fall of the Jia family, a "house of gongs and drums and a family of scholars," exposing the debauchery and corruption of the feudal aristocratic class while praising the pure love of rebellious youth like Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. It also critiques feudal ethics. The first 80 chapters were written by Cao Xueqin, while the last 40 werewritten by Gao E, who arranged a conclusion where Jia Baoyu "passes the county-level exam" and the Jia family "extends its legacy." In terms of art, the book is rich in content, well-structured, vivid in plot, and masterfully written, creating numerous artistic figures with distinct personalities. Dream of the Red Chamber represents the highest achievement of Chinese classical fiction in both artistic impact and intellectual value. "Since Dream of the Red Chamber appeared, traditional thought and writing styles have been shattered." (Lu Xun, Historical Changes of Chinese Fiction). The edition used in this book is the 120-chapter Newly Engraved Illustrated Dream of the Red Chamber with wooden movable type published by Cuiwen Book House in the 56th year of the Qianlong era (Xinhai, 1791), with prefaces by Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E, known as the "Cheng Jia edition." Dream of the Red Chamber is the greatest literary masterpiece of 18th-century China, not only a precious gem in the forest of Chinese literature but also a shining pearl in the ocean of world literature. It is the greatest and most complex work in the history of Chinese literature, depicting the realities of feudal society, including its bureaucracy, families, and ideology. Its portrayal of tragic love has moved countless readers to tears. Perhaps it is the diversity and complexity of its themes that have given it enduring artistic charm, allowing it to stand tall in the world of art and remain timeless. This edition of Dream of the Red Chamber is edited by the renowned redologist Yu Pingbo and annotated by Qi Gong, making it the newest version available today. The linguistic achievements of Dream of the Red Chamber represent the pinnacle of language art in Chinese classical fiction. The author often needs only a few words to sketch vivid characters with distinct personalities. Every character in the novel has a unique voice, enabling readers to distinguish them simply by their speech. The author's narrative language also possesses exceptional artistic expression, including poetry, songs, and quatrains in the novel, which not only blend seamlessly with the narrative but also serve to shape the characters, achieving the ideal of "poetry reflecting the person." Due to these outstanding accomplishments, Dream of the Red Chamber has a fresh and enduring artistic appeal, making it worthy of its place in the world of literature without any inferiority. Cao Xueqin is the greatest and most complex writer in the history of Chinese literature, and Dream of the Red Chamber is also the greatest and most complex work in that history. Dream of the Red Chamber tells the tragic love and marriage story between the feudal aristocratic youth Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai, centering on this to depict the rise and fall of the four great families of Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue, with the Jia family as the focal point. It exposes the darkness and crimes of late feudal society and its irreconcilable internal contradictions, powerfully critiquing the decadent feudal ruling class and the collapsing feudal system, making readers sense its inevitable downfall.