On November 1, Lu Shuming, an actor who played Guan Yu in the old version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", passed away. People remembered this old artist who created the image of Guan Gong. Many people revisited "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" on websites such as B, and then saw the audience's feelings in comments and barrage, "It would be great if Guan Erye could show weakness with Dongwu a little bit", "If Pang Tong was not dead, Zhuge Liang would not be so tired in the later stage", " Zhang Fei , if his personality is not so impatient, there is no hope of defeating Wu Kingdom", etc.
As the pinnacle of traditional Chinese literature, the four great classics left many endings that make readers feel uneasy, besides "Journey to the West". People hope that the people in " Dream of Red Mansions " can have a reunion ending, and hope that the Shu Han will eventually unify the world, fantasizing that the heroes of Liangshan did not accept the invitation and continued to fight against the Song army... The tragic ending in the original work, either historical necessity, or due to the author's experience, or artistic necessity, are factors that make the four great classics a classic literary work, but readers are not willing to accept this. In the history of Chinese literature, from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties to the present, people have been constantly opening their minds and continuing to write stories from the four great classics. In terms of literary nature, except for the extraordinary work "Journey to the West", most sequels are basically not worth mentioning in front of the original work, but these sequels of different periods and different concepts continue to expand the cultural influence of the four great masterpieces. These sequels are almost entirely based on the heart of the sequel writer and are free to create. Although some sequels have little research value only because of their long age, and today's words are basically equivalent to online cool articles, in the continuous sequels and fantasies, the characters in the four masterpieces have gradually gained richer vitality, and some authors even spend their entire lives to write a poster or sequel for other people's works.
"Dream of Red Mansions" was once published during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, and was sought after by readers. It was circulated in the form of hand-made for thirty years. "At that time, every time a flirtatious person copied one, it was placed in a temple market, raised the price and earned dozens of gold, which was spread like wildfire." Even Emperor Qianlong was presented by Heshen, "read it and good it", and believed that the prototype of the story was actually the family affairs of Mingzhu, a powerful minister of the Kangxi Dynasty, and was called one of the earliest "Suoyin School".
The emperor was like this. Since the 56th year of Qianlong (1791), thirty years after Cao Xueqin's death, Cheng Weiyuan, the owner of the Cuiwen Bookstore in Huizhou Prefecture, first published a full 120-chapter version in wooden movable type, "Dream of Red Mansions" has become popular quickly. Not only in Beijing, "there must be one on the desks of others", but "everyone recites the strings and households, and everyone knows it", and even there is a comment that "it is in vain to start talking about "Dream of Red Mansions", it is in vain to read all the poems and books", which shows the contribution of the engraved version to the masterpieces. However, it is precisely this forty chapters that are more than 200 years later, and it has set the stage for the reconciliation of countless "red fans".
This article is from the B04-05 edition of the special topic "Four Great Classics Fantasy" of "Beijing News·Book Review Weekly" on November 5.
Written by | Liu Wuxian
Hate the Dream of Red Mansions: Unfinished
"Dream of Red Mansions" was originally named " Stone Records ". The existing version actually has two systems. One is the eighty-fold Zhi review system with Zhiyanzhai comments, and the other is the Cheng Gao version system without comments compiled by Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E. The former is a handwritten copy, and the latter is a printed version printed in movable type. The original work of Cao Xueqin in Cheng Gao version is also from the Zhi review version.
Zhi Yanzhai is the main commentator of " Zhi Yanzhai's re-evaluation of stone records ". His comments are called " Zhi Jing " or "Zhi Pi". The manuscripts written with Zhi Yanzhai's comments are called " Zhi version ", and the most important versions are "Jiaxu version" and "Gengchen version".The "Jiaxu version" is titled "Zhi Yanzhai's Recommendation of the Stone Chronicles", and is also known as " Zhiquan version , Zhiquan version ". Therefore, the manuscript only has chapters 1 to 8, 13 to 16, and 25 to 28, in total. There are sixteen chapters in total, because the first chapter in the book contains the words "Zhizhi Yanzhai copied and re-evaluated during the Jiaxu period, and still used "The Story of the Stone"", Jiaxu year , which was the 19th year of Qianlong (1754), so it got its name. This is also the earliest version of "A Dream of Red Mansions" based on the known original. However, the actual copying time of the extant "Jiaxu version" is actually the 23rd year of Qianlong (1767), because the first chapter also has the signature "総叟" written on the side of the line with the words "Dinghaichun", and there is also an ink calligraphy of "composed in Dinghai". This copy was purchased by Hu Shi in Shanghai in the summer of 1927. He regarded it as a treasure and called it "the oldest and most precious manuscript of Dream of the Red Chamber in the world."
A meticulous painting of "A Dream of Red Mansions" by Sun Wen of the Qing Dynasty.
In contrast, although the "Jiaxu version" is the oldest and closest to Cao Xueqin's original manuscript, it is incomplete. The more complete version is undoubtedly the "Gengchen version", and the original title is still "Zhi". "Yan Zhai Recommends the Story of Stones", and has the words "Gengchen Qiuyue Final Edition" or "Gengchen Qiu Final Edition", which is the final version in the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), the year of Gengshen, so it is called "Gengchen Edition". There are only 78 chapters left in this edition from Chapters 1 to 80. Like the other volumes, Chapters 64 and 67 are missing. The two chapters in the existing editions were either supplemented by Cheng Gao's original version or added by later generations. It is regrettable that Cao Xueqin's original manuscript is hard to find. In addition to its length, the biggest feature of the Gengchen Edition is the considerable number of comments. Not only each volume is marked with "Zhi Yanzhai Fan's Four Readings and Comments", but there are also more than 2,000 comments on the eyebrows, side comments, double-line comments and back-to-back comments. Whether it is Cao Xueqin's original work or Zhi Yanzhai's comments, they are the most preserved among all the editions, and are indeed the most precious editions in the eyes of red scholars researchers. On the basis of the "Gengchen version", there is also the "Jiachen version" copied in the 49th year of Qianlong's reign (1784). This version has eighty chapters in existence and is also the first version titled "A Dream of Red Mansions".
As for Cheng Gao's version, it was printed in the winter solstice of the fifty-sixth year of Qianlong's reign (1791). It takes the first eighty chapters of the fat review version, omitting the comments, and combines them with the last forty chapters compiled by Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E. It is also the first printed version of "Dream of Red Mansions" in history, also known as "Cheng Jiaben". In the spring of this year, because the "Cheng Jia version" was in short supply, it was revised and printed again, and it was ", Cheng Yi version, ". In terms of text, it was more than 20,000 words more than the "Cheng Jia version", and the chapter titles were also slightly adjusted. It can be said that since Cheng Gao's version was published and circulated, the core issue in the study of "A Dream of Red Mansions" has emerged, that is, how to treat the authenticity, quality and inferiority of the last forty chapters, and even who is the original author?
Hu Shi's "A Textual Research on the Dream of Red Mansions" published in the 10th year of the Republic of China (1921) once identified the last forty chapters as a continuation, and the author was Gao E. However, with the deepening of red studies in recent years, most researchers still believe that the last forty chapters are a continuation. , but it basically excludes Gao E as the successor. Therefore, the People's Literature Publishing House has changed the author signature of "A Dream of Red Mansions" that has been "written by Cao Xueqin and Gao E" for decades to "(the first eighty chapters) written by Cao Xueqin, (the last forty chapters) continued by an unknown person, edited by Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E." In this regard, the last forty chapters written by Cheng Gaoben are actually the earliest sequels to "Dream of Red Mansions".
The controversy over the earliest renewal of the book
Cheng Gaoben's last forty "continuations" were already pointed out in Yu Rui's "Zao Chuang Xian Bi" during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty as not being the work of Cao Xueqin. Yu Rui was also the first commentator to suggest that the 120 chapters of "A Dream of Red Mansions" were not written by one person. He even denounced the last forty chapters as "continuations". After entering modern times, Hu Shi's "A Textual Research on the Dream of Red Mansions" was regarded as a milestone. In his opinion, "Although Gao E's forty chapters are not as good as the previous eighty chapters, they do have benefits that cannot be buried." After that, Yu Pingbo Continuing Hu Shi’s research and comparing the content of the first eighty chapters with the last forty chapters, it is pointed out that most of the stories in the sequel inherit the context and foreshadowing of the first eighty chapters, and the basis can be found. They are not fabricated, but the specific evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages is more negative than praise.
Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall.
On the contrary, Lu Xun's comments in " A brief history of Chinese novels " are quite memorable, "Although the number of the last forty chapters is only half of that of the first volume, there are many great stories, ruins and deaths one after another, which is consistent with the so-called 'the bird that has eaten all its food has flown away and remains alone in the white land. ’ is quite consistent, but there is a slight uplift at the end.” In short, Mr. Lu Xun recognized the profound resonance with Cao Xueqin in the last forty chapters, but he also keenly discovered the huge difference in the life circumstances, thoughts and emotions of the sequel, which led to the contradiction in the final ending.
This point has actually been touched upon by another master of Chinese studies, Wang Guowei. He commented in " Commentary on A Dream of Red Mansions", "Therefore, among the literature of our country, the only one with the spirit of world-weary relief is " "The Peach Blossom Fan" and "A Dream of Red Mansions". "Japanese scholar Muramatsu Ei's explanation of world-weariness is undoubtedly very vivid, " Baoyu ... His ideals will always conflict with society, and the consequences can be imagined... Baoyu. The beauty dissipated one by one, and he became a monk after feeling impermanent. "Dream of Red Mansions" is a work that describes the blooming of hundreds of flowers and then withering away. That’s why the book is titled “A Dream of Red Mansions”. "Beauty and impermanence, the love tragedy of Bao, Dai and others, and the tragedy of the Jia family's decline are all footnotes to the fact that "color is emptiness" in Buddhism. "Dreams and bubbles" ultimately end in nothingness. The huge aesthetic significance created by the tragic plot makes Cao Xueqin's original work "very contrary to the spirit of our country's people, and this is where its value lies." "
Kun Opera "The Peach Blossom Fan".
In contrast, although the last forty chapters try their best to continue the tragic plot of the first eighty chapters and echo the foreshadowing, they only solve the problem of the completeness of the work, and it is ultimately incomplete in terms of aesthetic taste, which is disappointing. Zhang Ailing wrote in "A Nightmare in Red Mansions", "Some people have said that the three major hates are: one hates the thorns of anchovies, the second hates the fragrant begonias, and the third one I can’t remember. Maybe it’s because I subconsciously feel that it should be the three hates of the Red Mansion. The dream is not over yet. "
There cannot be one in the world, there cannot be two.
The strong sense of tragedy in "A Dream of Red Mansions" has created real characters, so readers often sigh for it. When explaining the original intention of his creation, Gui Hozi, the author of the sequel to "Dream of Red Mansions", "Drinking hatred when recalling Wen and cuckoo, the wax of tears runs dry; holding sorrow on behalf of treasures and dais, smashing the saliva pot. ... Borrowing the tubes of flowers, why not renovate the old things; building a building that is full of sighs, allowing old people to talk about old things." To put it bluntly, because of love The character tries to change his destiny, and feels his life experience to make up for his regrets, so he writes, "In the Grand View Garden, there are many flowers of wishful thinking; in the Rongguo Mansion, there are blessings of peace and prosperity." It can be said that the author's intention of the sequel to "A Dream of Red Mansions" has been fulfilled.
It is based on this sentiment that in the first year of Jiaqing (1796), that is, 5 years after Cheng Gao's edition was published, the first sequel to the 120-chapter "Dream of Red Mansions" was completed, titled "Houhong" "Dream of the Red Chamber", with a preface signed by Xiaoyaozi, saying: "It is said that Xueqin still has thirty chapters of "The Dream of the Red Chamber". After repeated visits, I could not find it, and the art world cherished it deeply. The foreign historians of Qingbaiyun and Sanhua laymen unexpectedly found the original manuscript, and it was not defective." Cao Xueqin's original manuscript was a gimmick, but what he called the original manuscript turned out to be "returning to the beauty of the emperor and relatives, and being loyal and filial". He also shamelessly used the metaphor of "breaking the stele to get the original stele, and missing the score to get the full score." In terms of writing, Cao Xueqin himself appeared in the book, becoming a As a close friend of Jia Zheng, Baoyu and others, he was asked by the character to continue adding manuscripts to correct some "injustices" in the original work. Finally, at the banquet in the thirtieth chapter, Baoyu was promised to write a thirty-chapter sequel.
"Grand View Garden of Shi Taijun's Two Banquets", painted by Dai Dunbang.
Since becoming the "man in the song", Cao Xueqin has been accepting characters to point out various flaws in the original manuscript, and has made subversive changes to the entire novel world, especially everyone in the Jia family. Not only Daiyu , Qingwen came back from the dead, but also Daiyu also brought a token "Refining Goldfish" that matched Baoyu. Not only did she marry Baoyu at the repeated request of Jia Zheng and his wife, she also surpassed Baochai and became his first wife. She also showed amazing housekeeping skills. She even formulated a fourteen-point family rule to bring new order to the Jia family.
Because this book is very close to Cheng Gao's version and it is also claimed to be Cao Xueqin's manuscript, it has a great influence. The opera adapters Zhong Zhenkui and Wan Rongen connected "The Dream of Red Mansions" after "A Dream of Red Mansions" and compiled it into a complete version. Kun opera "Legend of the Dream of Red Mansions" and "Awakening of the Stone", 14 of the 32 poems in "Dream of Red Mansions" composed by Pan Zhen are dedicated to "Post-Dream of Red Mansions". However, it has also been criticized quite a lot, and many critics regard it as a follow-up work.
There have been many sequels since "A Dream of Red Mansions". According to the latest statistics from Zhao Jianzhong in 2019, a total of 195 kinds of sequels and fan works have appeared in the past 200 years. After the boom of online literature, there have been 300 new ones. There are more than 0 "Dream of Red Mansions" fan fiction, and the sequel itself has become a cultural phenomenon that cannot be ignored. Therefore, Zhao Jianzhong divided the "Dream of Red Mansions" sequels into 8 categories:
One of them is Cheng Gaoben's sequel, since "Houhong" in the first year of Jiaqing (1796) "Dream of the Red Chamber" to the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), there are 13 kinds of "True Dream of the Red Chamber", most of them are continued from the 120th chapter, and some are continued from the 97th chapter, namely Cheng Gaoben's "The soul of the bitter Jiangzhu returns to the hateful sky, and the sick god Ying sheds tears in the land of lovesickness", which is exactly the Lin Daiyu ht The unbearable tragic ending of ml2 has made many sequel authors angry and write. However, due to the structure of the original book, they can only continue with stories of gods and ghosts. In Chen Shaohai's "A Dream of Red Mansions", all the dead men are reincarnated, and all the girls later return to Mengyu (the reincarnation of Baoyu).
In " Continuation of the Dream of Red Mansions " written by Qin Zichen, first Lin Daiyu and Jia Baoyu formed a fairy couple after their souls returned to Taixu Illusionland, and then received decrees from the Emperor of Heaven and the Human Emperor, ordering "all registered people in Taixu Illusionary Land, Pu Ling" "Resurrection", this is the Hungry Ghost Festival "The crazy man and the resentful woman return to the ghostly soul". In Jia's house, the ghosts of Jia Mu, Lin Ruhai, Bao, Dai and other resurrected people, Jia Zheng and other living people actually had a happy reunion. "Dream of the Red Chamber" written by Guo Zeyun is even more miraculous. It brings together all the descendants of Jia's ancestor Jia Daishan , whether in the immortal, mortal or underworld, in one place to achieve perfection. It can be said that it is no longer a matter of continuing the dog's tail, but a completely absurd imagination.
Dongguan Pavilion version of "Dream of Red Mansions".
The second category is rewriting, additions, deletions, and compilations, with about 15 types. This type of work is an in-depth rewriting of the original "Dream of Red Mansions" or additions, deletions, and compilation of its sequel. On the basis of returning to the basics, it is made up of ten additions and deletions, including "After Dream of Red Mansions", "Continuation of Dream of Red Mansions", "Dream of Red Mansions Again", "Dream of Red Mansions Returned", "Supplementary Dream of Red Mansions" and "Dream of Red Mansions Supplement", "Supplementary Dream of Red Mansions", "Dream of Red Mansions Realized", "Dream of Red Mansions" and "Dream of Red Mansions Realized".
The third one is short and medium-length sequels, which were mostly seen in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. They were published serially in newspapers, so they are shorter in length. They are very different from the long sequels in Zhanghui style in the Qing Dynasty. There are 15 types in total.
The fourth category is fan fiction, with a total of 34 types. This type of sequel abandons the plot direction of the original work and only borrows the names of people from "A Dream of Red Mansions" for secondary creation. The story system is completely different. As early as the 31st year of Guangxu (1905), "New Stone Story" written by Wu Woyao has already used Jia Baoyu as the protagonist to tell a time-travel story. In the first half of the novel, the author uses Jia Baoyu's eyes to view the late Qing Dynasty htm Chapter 22 of the second half of L2: Troubled Times, Jia Baoyu has entered the "civilized realm" and traveled. He has seen microscopes and timekeepers, and witnessed food improvements. After that, Baoyu dives into the bottom of the sea, shoots seahorses, fights loaches, explores the Antarctic, and watches the wonders of whirlpools.After leaving the Red Chamber, the familiar protagonist's name makes readers feel more absurdity than other types of sequels.
The fifth and sixth are the outer genre and the supplementary category respectively. The former has 39 types, focusing on the development of a certain character or some plots in the original work, extending Cao Xueqin's creative ideas and adding vitality to the story; the latter has 27 types, which are generally referred to as the Zhiping, but are actually the research results of the Redology, but some links that are not available for examination or are insufficient information can only be supplemented through association, which is equivalent to the secondary creation of "Dream of Red Mansions", so the endings and plot arrangements of the characters are different.
The seventh one is the "old real version" category, with a total of 25 types. It belongs to the "real version" mentioned in the records of the Qing Dynasty that does not match the content of the last forty chapters of Cheng Gao's version. It may not be Cao Xueqin's lost manuscript, or it may be the sequel to the Anonymous.
The eighth of the book is the category of "introduced bibliography", with a total of 27 types. Although the quotation mentions sequels, it is difficult to find, so it can only be listed in the bibliography. As mentioned above, Zhao Jianzhong is included in the door to sequels, while Zhang Yun proposed the concept of "red novels", that is, novels related to "Dream of Red Mansions" or formed intertextual relationships with them can be included, and can be divided into eight types: "continued writing, written according to the writing, written in reverse, written in a different way, written by post, written by writing, rewriting, and supplementary writing". The scope involved is slightly larger than the eight "sequels" of Zhao's family.
It is worth noting that no matter what category it is, in Lu Xun's eyes, the many sequels of "Dream of Red Mansions" "presumably to make up for their shortcomings and reunite with each other." This writing style is completely "closing your eyes and nonsense" by mediocre writers who "has too much addiction to self-deception." This comment actually echoes Yang Zhangsheng's evaluation during the Jiadao period a hundred years ago. "Dream of Red Mansions" is actually "there must be one in the world, and there must be two works."
How can I get a wisp of soul-returning fragrance?
The original work of "Dream of Red Mansions" cannot be surpassed. Are the many sequels really closed their eyes and listened without any consciousness? Of course, the answer is no. When Wu Zhaoren (Wu Woyao), the author of "New Stone", he said when he talked about his creative purpose, "Since the publication of "Dream of Red Mansions" by Cao Xueqin, many "Continuation of Dream of Red Mansions", "Later Dream of Red Mansions", "Revising Dream of Red Mansions", "Revising Dream of Red Mansions", and "Revising Dream of Qilou". There are countless absurd words, and none of them have said that they have made this mistake again. Didn't my "New Stones" make me think that if I write an essay, I always have a meaning first. When I start writing, I didn't have to appreciate it, but I just want to write my own embrace. As for the praise and criticism of later generations, it was nothing to do with me."
Japanese cabinet library "Embroidered like a Dream of Red Mansions".
"Writing your own embrace", for example, in the first chapter of "Dream of Red Mansions", Gui Chuzi confessed his thoughts in the form of a question and answer, "The books "The Later" and "Sutra" have their own strengths. However, Bao and Dai finally matched each other, and did not think about it from their own ideas and ideas. They came from the ink and dipped in the pen, and they were never relieved." No matter how classic the previous work was, for Lin Daiyu's intentions were difficult to calm down, they had to use their own ideas and change their destiny completely before they were relieved. After all, it is to take away other people's wine glasses and pour your own trunks. In the preface written by Xiji Shanqiao for "Dream of Red Mansions", it is even more explicit. Mrs. Wang suspects that Lin Daiyu has a private relationship with Baoyu, and Qingwen fox is charming and confusing the master, which is like being a monarch and minister. It is loyal and suspicious, and trusting but slandering. Therefore, he returns to the son to "rescue his grievances for it", which means "spraying the depression in his heart."
The Qing Dynasty Fu Cha Mingyi once said in the twenty poems of "Inscription on Dream of Red Mansions": "A sad poem about burying flowers is like a prophecy that comes true. How can I return to the soul fragrance and raise you to continue the red silk?" This is the sadness for Lin Daiyu's early death, and it is also the sympathy for the former alliance of Jinshi. Therefore, I wish Daiyu could revive her soul, but Cheng Gao's 97th chapter, Lin Daiyu has returned to the Heaven of Liheng, so many sequels who are unable to calm down often rely on the theory of gods and ghosts to continue after 120 chapters. Only "Dream of Red Mansions" has taken a unique approach, starting from 97th chapters, allowing Daiyu to leave her soul to go to the Taixu Illusion Realm. Jinghuan Fairy to revive her twelve beauties, so that Daiyu can continue to write many plots in addition to revive her soul.However, the character of Lin Daiyu after her return is completely different from the original work. The author smoothed over all her shortcomings because of her love, so that the character became shriveled.
Other sequels to "Dream of Red Mansions"
In other sequels, Lin Daiyu, a key character, also had a similar fate. For example, "Dream in the Red Mansion" was first published in the fourth year of Jiaqing (1799). In Baochai's womb, he became his own son, named Jia Xiaoyu, while Daiyu was reincarnated in Shi Xiangyun's womb, named Shunhua. Jia Xiaoyu was not only talented in both civil and military skills, but also proficient in female sex since childhood, and Shun Hua Ze embodies all the advantages of a good woman, being clean and self-loving, not jealous, not lewd, and extremely intelligent. However, she is devoted to Jia Xiaoyu and completely loses the charm of Lin Daiyu.
In another "Dream of Red Mansions" written during the Jiaqing period, the author Qin Zichen can freely travel between the four realms of humans, ghosts, gods and immortals. After Lin Daiyu's death, she was taken to Taixu by the vigilant fairy, and met Qin Keqinghtm who had arrived before. l2. Qingwen and other girls lived together, gathering and chanting every day, and they were very happy. Jia Baoyu and Liu Xianglian became semi-immortal bodies after cultivation, and were able to enter the illusion of Taixu to renew their relationship. Lin Daiyu did not want to see Baoyu, and asked him to go to the underworld to ask for the consent of Lin Ruhai and Lin Ruhai before they agreed to get married.
Lin Daiyu in this book looks like a lady, but after marrying Baoyu, her edge has faded, and her poems are all dull and tasteless. In "A Dream of Red Mansions" written in the 19th year of Jiaqing (1814), Lin Daiyu was resurrected by the Soul-Calming Pill and obtained a large amount of jewels. After helping Jia Zheng in disaster relief, she was named a princess. On the other hand, after becoming a monk, Baoyu was taught magic weapons and used them to control floods and made meritorious service. In this book, Lin Daiyu's petty temper completely disappears, replaced by the steady image of a wealthy mistress, who is tolerant and prudent in her behavior.
"Duet" Author: Huang Yinong Edition: Zhonghua Book Company July 2015
It is obvious that during the Jiaqing period, when the sequel was at its peak not far from Cheng Gaoben, people had a hard time letting go of Lin Daiyu. Instead of understanding her heart and exploring the nature of fate, they wanted to change her character image to fit the world. Regarding transformation, some commentators once said that the original book was "Chai and Dai are both beautiful, and the two are separated", each with its own merits. However, in the eyes of these sequel authors, Daiyu's character and even her illness are flaws, which must be changed quickly so that she and Baochai can be completely integrated. This is the happy life and reunion scene in their eyes.
On the other hand, the twenty-four chapters of "Dream of Red Mansions" published in the third year of Guangxu's reign (1877) are very different from many sequels, because the author Yun Chawai is actually a female poet in the Qing Dynasty Gu Taiqing , and the preface author Xihu Sanren is a talented woman in the Qing Dynasty Shen Shanbao. Therefore, this book is a sequel written by a female author from a female perspective, and is unique among many sequels.
This book continues the 120th chapter of "A Dream of Red Mansions". The biggest change is not Daiyu's resurrection, but the changes in the lives of Baoyu and others. After Baoyu was rescued in Pilingyi, he returned to family life. His whole personality changed drastically. After Baoyu got married, He cared deeply about Baochai, and the two respected each other as guests. Gu Taiqing's Baoyu became a model for ancient men to be husbands. He changed from an aristocratic playboy who was obsessed with women and did not do his job to a family-oriented, considerate wife and loving child. He changed from a rebel in the feudal era in the original work to a convert in secular life. Even the images of Jia Zheng and Jia She have changed drastically. Jia Zheng has changed from a stubborn and authoritarian parent to a loving elder who cares for his children; Jia She has changed from a promiscuous and immoral parent to a parent who upholds justice. Under the guidance and guidance of the two men, the men of the Jia family settled down, and the Jia family gradually returned to prosperity. Even Jia Lian and Xue Pan were advised by Sister Feng in a dream to quit drinking and sex, and to do business peacefully and have children. It can be said that in Gu Taiqing's writings, all the characters in the Jia family, where only the stone lions were clean, turned out to be clean.
Looking around at the many sequels, we can increasingly find that Cao Xueqin's original works are rare. Although writing books is all about "writing about one's own feelings", these hundreds of sequels and fan works are incomparable in terms of literary talent and writing power. Perhaps there is no one who can compare with the three-part skill of "A Dream of Red Mansions" in terms of understanding the world, people's hearts, or even in the aesthetic sense. This is not a tragedy of literature, but a poverty of the spiritual world, as Wang Guowei said in "Commentary on a Dream of Red Mansions" Said, "The spirit of our country's people is both worldly and optimistic. Therefore, the operas and novels that represent its spirit are always filled with this optimistic color: those who begin with sadness end up with joy, those who begin with separation end with reunion, those who begin with hardship end with prosperity; those who are not right are those who want to read. It’s hard to think of others.” The so-called “optimistic” and “worldly” are rooted in attachment to the sensory stimulation of and . At the level of communication, metaphysical thoughts and concerns can only be irrelevant obstacles. The spread of the classic "Dream of Red Mansions" is actually "contrary to the spirit of our people." But it is precisely this departure and result that is the value of this masterpiece, reminding us that the spark is still there and the hope is still there.
Someone once said that the three major hates are that the anchovies are prickly, and the begonias are fragrant. I can’t remember the third one, maybe because I subconsciously feel that it should be the unfinished Dream of Red Mansions.
- Zhang Ailing's "A Nightmare in Red Mansions"
text/Liu Wuxian;
editor/Gong Zhaohua, Zhu Tianyuan, Shen Chan
proofread/Xue Jingning
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