I. Introduction to A Dream of Red Mansions
The version of A Dream of Red Mansions can be divided into two systems: 120 "cost" and 80 "fat cost". Cheng Ben is printed by Cheng Weiyuan, while Fat Ben is an early manuscript copied and commented by Zhi Yanzhai in different periods. Fat book is the basic book of craft book. The first 80 chapters of this new edition of popular reading are examined according to the fat version, and the last 40 chapters are examined according to the course version, with the signature "Cao Xueqin, anonymous sequel, Cheng Weiyuan, finishing".
A Dream of Red Mansions is an earthly novel with world influence. It is recognized as the pinnacle of China's classical novels, an encyclopedia of feudal society in China and a master of traditional culture. This novel has made extraordinary artistic achievements. The special brushwork of "the truth is hidden and the village tells lies" has opened the brains of later readers and speculated for a long time.
Later generations formed an outstanding school-redology around the study of reading A Dream of Red Mansions.
Second, the creative background
During the Kang Yong period, Cao Jiazu Sun San made Jiangning weaving for four generations for 58 years. In its heyday, the Cao family had done four large-scale pick-up and drop-off of drivers. Cao Xueqin grew up in Nanjing and experienced a rich aristocratic life in his youth.
However, the family gradually declined. In the sixth year of Yongzheng (1728), Cao Xueqin returned to Beijing with his family. After returning to Beijing, he worked as a handyman in charge of literature and ink in a royal school, "Right-wing Religion". His family was poor and his life was difficult. In his later years, he moved to the western suburbs of Beijing, and his life was even poorer.
Third, the source
From Cao Xueqin in Qing Dynasty
Cao Xueqin experienced a luxurious and romantic life in Nanjing Jiangning Weaving Institute in his early years. Great-grandfather Cao was appointed Jiangning Weaving; Great-grandmother Sun Shi was the nanny of Emperor Kangxi. Grandfather Cao Yin was the squad leader and bodyguard of Emperor Kangxi. Later, he was appointed as Jiangning Weaving, and also served as the inspection station of Huaihe Salt Affairs, which was very popular with Kangxi.
In the sixth year of Yongzheng, the Cao family was robbed of their property because of a deficit, and Cao Xueqin moved back to his former residence in Beijing with his family. Later, he moved to the western suburbs of Beijing and made a living by selling calligraphy and painting and helping his friends. Since then, the Cao family has been devastated and declining. After a major turning point in his life, Cao Xueqin felt that the world was cold and had a clearer and deeper understanding of feudal society.
Extended information 1. appreciate
A Dream of Red Mansions is a work with rich connotations. The author puts Jia Baoyu and a group of girls with different identities and positions in the poetic and real novel world of Grand View Garden, showing the tragedy and beautiful destruction of their youthful lives.
The most profound thing in the works is that this kind of tragedy is not entirely attributed to the cruelty of the wicked, but some are directly destroyed by feudal forces, such as the tragic ending of Yuanyang, Qingwen and Si Qi.
It is a life tragedy caused by the deep structure of orthodox culture accumulated and solidified for thousands of years. The novel depicts a vast historical picture of imperial palaces and rural villages, which reflects the complex and profound contradictions and conflicts in the last days of feudalism extensively and profoundly, and shows the essential characteristics of feudal nobles and the historical fate of inevitable decline.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Dream of Red Mansions