Cliffs-Notes-on-Dream-of-the-Red-Chamber;英語(yǔ)版紅樓夢(mèng)學(xué)習(xí)筆記

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19911

DREAMOFTHE

REDCHAMBER

(ADreamofRedMansions)

Notes

including

LifeandBackgroundoftheAuthors

IntroductiontotheNovel

ABriefSynopsis

ListofCharacters

CriticalCommentaries

CriticalEssays

EssayTopicsandReviewQuestions

SelectedBibliography

by

ZhangXiugui

ProfessorofEnglish

BeijingSecondForeignLanguageInstitute

People'sRepublicofChina

LINCOLN,NEBRASKA68501

1-800-228-4078

www.CLIFFS.com

ISBN0-8220-7060-x

.Copyright1991

by

CliffsNotes,Inc.

AllRightsReserved

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19912

LIFEANDBACKGROUNDOFTHEAUTHORS

IntheentirehistoryofChineseliterature,TsaoHsueh-chin(alsocalledTsaoShan)isrecognizedasbeing

thecountry'sgreatestrealisticnovelist.Hewasbornin1715toaHanfamily,someofwhomservedinthe

Manchuarmy.HisgrandfatherTsaoYin(1658-1712)wasoneofthemosteminentandwealthymenof

histimeandwasinchargeoftheNankingSilkBureauduringthereignofKangHsi.TheEmperorstayed

fivetimesinTsao'sresidenceduringhisinspectiontoursintheYang-tzeValley,andTsaoYinwas

presentduringthelastfourvisits.Inaddition,twoofTsaoYin'sdaughterswerechosenastheemperor's

concubines.Clearly,theTsaofamilywasquiteinfluentialatthetime;theirrelationshipwithEmperor

KangHsiwasveryclose.

Likehisgrandson,TsaoHsueh-chin,TsaoYinwasfondofliteratureandwonanameforhimselfasa

scholar;morethantenofhistextswereprinted,andheleftbehindsomeadditionalwritings,including

fivevolumesofpoemsandsomeplays,beforehispostattheSilkBureauwaspassedtoTsaoHsuehchin's

father.

TsaoHsueh-chinwasborninNankingattheendofKangHsi'sreign,andnotmuchisknownabouthis

childhooduntilhewasthirteenyearsold.Atthattime,hisfatherwasdismissedfromhispost,andTsao

Hsueh-chinaccompaniedhimtoPeking.TheTsaofamily'shomeandpropertiesweresearchedandits

landswereconfiscatedbecauseofwrongdoingsbysomeoftheirrelatives.DuringthereignofChien

Lung,theTsaofamilyunderwentevengreaterfinancialreverses,andinTsaoHsueh-chin'slateryears,he

livedinpovertyinawesternsuburbofPeking,notalwayshavingenoughtoeat.Still,however,he

remainedaproudscholar,whooftendrankheavilyandcomposedpoems.Itwasduringthisperiodthathe

beganADreamofRedMansions(HungLouMeng),inwhichhepraisedtheworthyvirtuesofthegirls

aroundhim,usingrecollectionsofhisfamily'spastprosperityandthevicissitudesofhisownlife.In

1762,hissondiedandhehimselffellillofgrief,dyinginhisearlyfortiesonFebruary1,1764.Heleft

behindeightychaptersofanunfinishednovel.

LittleisknownaboutKaoNgo(KaoO,KaoI),theauthorofthelastfortychaptersofADreamofRed

Mansions.Wedoknow,though,thathetoocamefromaHanfamilywhichservedintheManchuarmy,

and,afterpassingtheprovincialexaminationin1788andthepalaceexaminationin1795,heentered

theHanlinAcademyandbecameaReader.In1801,hewasmadeAssistantExamineroftheMetropolitan

Examination.

Itisbelievedthathewrotethelastfortychaptersofthenovelin1791,orthereabouts,beforehepassed

hisfinalexamination.Thefactthathehadsomuchleisuretimeandwasslightlyboredmadehim

sympathizewithTsaoHsueh-chin'sloneliness.However,unlikeTsaoHsueh-chin,"besetbypovertyand

illnessinhisoldageandsinkingintodecline,"KaoNgodidnotlosehope.Therefore,althoughan

atmosphereofmelancholyprevailsthroughthesequel,theChiafamilyrecoversitslostfortune--instead

ofbeingleftwithnothing"butthebarenakedearth."Thisending,ofcourse,runscountertoTsaoHsuehchin's

originaltragicintent.

INTRODUCTIONTOTHENOVEL

DreamoftheRedChamberisaone-volumeadaptationofamuchlonger,three-volumework,sometimes

translatedintoEnglishasADreamofRedMansions.ItisChina'sbest-knownnovel.Wehavebasedthis

setofNotesonthethree-volumeoriginalnovel,feelingthattherichnessoftheoriginalworkistoo

importanttoignore.However,anyonereadingtheseNotesalongsidethemorepopular(andeasierto

acquire)one-volumepaperbackDreamoftheRedChambershouldhavenodifficultyandwillappreciate

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19913

readingabouttheepisodesthatChi-ChenWangomittedfromhisadaptation.Inaddition,becausethe

noveltouchesonthelivesofover400characters,weuseboththeadaptor'sEnglishnamesforkey

charactersandtheirChinesenamesthroughthefirstseveralchapterssothatthereaderwillfeelatease

withtheChineseequivalent.Forexample,weuseboth"BlackJade"and"LinTai-yu"forthesame

characteruntilthereaderfeelscomfortablereferringtothecharacterbyherChinesename.

Thismassive,sprawlingnovelofChinawaswritteninthemid-eighteenthcentury,duringtheChing

Dynasty,andhasbeenwidelyreadduringthepasttwohundredyears.Recently,itwasmadeintoaminiseries

inChina.

TsaoHsueh-chin,theauthorofADreamofRedMansions,wasbornandraisedinanaristocraticfamily,

buthediedinmiseryandisolation.Fromhisownbitter,personalexperiences,Tsaocreatedatragiclove

storybetweenayoungman,ChiaPao-yu,andayoungwoman,LinTai-yu,and,alongwiththeirlove

story,hedescribedincarefuldetailtheupsanddownsoffourleadingaristocraticfamilies:Chia,Shih,

Wang,andHsueh.Itisthroughhisprecisedescriptionofthedeclineofthesefourfamiliesthatweare

givenadeepandcarefulanalysisandcriticismoftheChingDynasty'seconomics,politics,culture,

education,law,ethics,religion,andmarriage,focusinginparticularonthesocialsuperstructureofthe

ChingDynasty,China'slastfeudaldynasty.

Clearly,thisnovelis,likelifeitself,extraordinarilyrich.Itdepictswithartisticappealandsuccinctness

thehiddencrisesandvariouskindsofintricatesocialconflictsofthedecliningfeudalsociety,while

offeringusmanydifferentcharacteristicsofmanydifferentkindsofpeople.Thenovelhasprofound

socialsignificanceandahighhistoricalvalue.ItisgenerallyregardedasChina'sgreatestnovel.

HISTORICALBACKGROUND

ADreamofRedMansionswaswrittenintheeighteenthcenturyduringthereignsofEmperorsKangHsi,

YungCheng,andChienLung,duringtheso-calledKangschienGoldenAge.Duringthisperiod,China

wasgovernedbyManchuaristocrats,usingthesocialturbulencefortheirownselfishendsandfor

consolidatingtheirpoliticalpositions.

Itwasduringthisperiodthatavastamountoflandwasannexedandconcentratedinthehandsofthe

royalfamilies,thearistocrats,thebureaucraticlandlords,andbigbusinessmen,whilethepeasantswho

losttheirlandsweredestinedtobecomethelandlords'tenants.Thissocialdivisionbecameaterrible

abyss.Evensmalllandlordswereoftenonthebrinkofbankruptcy.Thiscriticalsocialandeconomic

situationcanbeseenintheveryfirstchapterofADreamofRedMansions:afteradevastatingfire,a

smalllandlord,ChenShih-yin,isbankruptandmustseekrefugewithhisfather-in-law.

Manymonopolygroupsemergedduringthisperiod,exploitingthepeasantspoliticallyandeconomically.

TheauthorsdescriptionofthefourmajorfamiliesofChia,Shih,Wang,andHsuehinthenovel(theChia

familybeingrepresentativeofthegroupasawhole)isdeeplyrootedinthesocialrealityofthetime;this

isnotafictionalbackgroundforthelovestorywhichisthreadedthroughoutthenovel.Racketeeringand

extortionflourishedinthisera.Therewerecorruptofficialsateverylevel,andtheusuryandheavylevies

fromthelandlordsweresounfairandunbearablethatthepeasantscoulddonothingbuttakeafearful

gamble:Theywereforcedtorevolt.Theyhadnochoice.Theyhadtoriseupinrebellionagainsttheir

oppressors--especiallyintheHunanandGuichowprovinces.Notsurprisingly,thesetorrentialpeasant

uprisings,springinguphereandtherebehindthesuperficialprosperityoftheKangchienheyday,dealta

heavyblowtotheChingDynasty.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19914

Thepeople'sdissatisfactionwiththepoliticalcorruptionoftheircountrycanalsobefoundinthe

historicalrecords,particularlythosedescribingthetextileworkers'strikesinSoochowandNanking,

whereTsaoHsueh-chinspenthischildhoodafterrisingcapitalismgaineditsprominentpositioninthe

country'seconomy.

Atthesametime,withintheeliterulingclassoftheClingDynasty,contradictionsandconflictsbetween

differentpoliticalforcesandexploitationcliquesbecameincreasinglysharpandtense.Inthelateyearsof

theKangHsireign,anintensestrugglefortheseizureofthethronewasfoughtamongChina'stopruling

leaders.KangHsi'sfourthson,YinChen,averyclever,sophisticatedperson,fiercelywantedtogainhis

father'sthroneandwentoutofhiswaytomakefriendswithpeopleofallranksandclasses.Hewas

finallysuccessful,and,onceinpower,headoptedeverypossiblemeasuretoridthecourtofallhis

politicalenemies--includinghisfather'sfollowersandhisownbrothers.

TheemperorChienLungfollowedYinChen'sexample.Oncehecametothethrone,hedidthesame

thing.Underhisrule,hisfollowersbegansealingpeople'sdoors,searchingpeople'shouses,confiscating

theirproperties,puttingdissentersinprison,sendingpeopleintoexile,andkillingthemwithfiring

squads.Thesefrighteningconditionscreatedaterrifyingatmosphereinthecourtandthroughoutthe

country,aswell.Atthistime,TsaoHsueh-chin'sfamilywasnotpopularwiththeroyalfamilies;

therefore,itwasclearlyontheroadtosocialandfinancialdecline.

ThiscorruptfeudalsocietyandthegrowthofcapitalismformthehistoricalbackgroundofTsaoHsuehchin's

era,anditisalsothebackgroundagainstwhichallthecharactersinGrandViewGardenwillplay

theirroles.Themaincharactersofthenovel,ChiaPao-yuandLinTai-yu,aretypicalofyoungpeople

everywhere;theydesperatelywanttobefreetomarrywhomevertheywish.

ABRIEFSYNOPSIS

ThebasicstorylineofADreamofRedMansionsfocusesprimarilyontheChiafamily.Therearetwo

dukesinthefamily--DukeNing-kuoandDukeJung-kuo.ChiaFu,theeldergrandsonofDukeNing-kuo,

diesyoung,sothesecondgrandson,ChiaChing,succeedstothetitleafterthedeathofhisfather,Chia

Tai-hua.However,sincehisheartissetonareligiouslife,herelinquisheshistitletohisson,ChiaChen,

anddevoteshistimeandenergytoreligiousstudy,hopingtobecomeanimmortalafterdeath.

Unlikehisfather,ChiaChenisalibertine,indulginghimselfinalecherouslifestyle.Forexample,hehas

anillicitaffairwithhisson'swife,ChinKo-ching.

DukeJung-kuo'ssonChiaTai-shanmarriesthedaughterofMarquisShihofChinling(DuchessChianée

Shih,LadyDowager).Theyhavetwosons,ChiaShehandChiaCheng,andadaughter,ChiaMin.Chia

Shehhasason,ChiaLien,whosewifeisWangHsi-feng,andtheirdaughterisChiao-chieh.ChiaSheh

hasadaughter,Ying-chun,byaconcubine.

ChiaChengmarriesLadyWang,andtheyhavetwosons,ChiaChuandChiaPao-yu,andadaughter,

Tan-chun(byconcubineLadyChao).ChiaChudiesyoung,leavinghiswife,LiWan,andhisson,Chia

Lan,behind.ChiaPao-yuisbornwithapieceofpreciousjadeinhismouth--theJadeofSpiritual

Understanding.

ChiaMinismarriedtoLinJu-hai,butdiesyoung,leavingadaughter,LinTai-yu,withherfather,LinJuhai.

UponhergrandmotherLadyDowager'sinvitation,Tai-yucomestolivewiththeChiafamily.Lady

DowagerdotesonbothPao-yuandTai-yu.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19915

AstheChiafamilyisawealthyandpowerful,aristocraticfamilyandthehouseholdisavastone,Aunt

Hsuehandherdaughter,HsuehPao-chai,cometojointhehousehold.Pao-yu,inhisinnocentandnaive

fashion,lovesbothgirlsequally,althoughhisstrongestattachmentistoTai-yu.

WhenPao-yu'ssisterYuan-chunischosenasanImperialconcubine(ImperialConsort),theChiafamily

growsevenmoreaffluentandinfluential.TheybuildGrandViewGarden(Ta-kuanGarden)tohonorand

entertainYuan-chunwhenshecomesbackforavisit;itisavast,beautifulsettingwherethewholefamily

candinetogetheringreathappiness.

Pao-yuclearlyhasapreferenceforfemininecompanyandspendsmostofhistimewithhisgirlcousins

andyoungmaid-servants,suchasHsi-jen,Chin-wen,Tzu-chuan,andHsueh-yen.Notsurprisingly,his

father,ChiaCheng,isverystrictwithhimandoftencriticizeshimforspendingsomuchtimewiththe

girlsinsteadofstudyingtheclassicworksthathewillbetestedonduringtheall-importantofficial

examination.Pao-yu,however,isarebelliouscharacter.Contrarytofeudalethics,heisn'tinterestedinan

officialcareer.Whathecaresformostisplayingfreelywithinnocentgirlsandwritingpoemswhile

yearningforthefreedomtoloveandmarrywhomeverhechooses.

Becauseoftheconceptoffeudalfatalism,theChiaauthorities--representedbyLadyDowager,Chia

Cheng,LadyWang,andWangHsi-feng--decidetochoosePao-chaiasPao-yu'sbride--insteadofthe

lovely,butsickly(andrebellious)Tai-yu.Intheiropinion,Pao-yuandPao-chaiareaperfectcouple.

Theirmarriagewillbeasymbolicunionbetweena"preciousjade"andagoldenlocket."Therefore,when

theybecomeawareofthefactthatPao-yudeeplylovesTai-yu,theydecidetoplayacrueltrickonhim.

TheytellhimthathewillbemarriedtoLinTai-yu;secretly,though,theyplantohavehimmarrythe

heavilyveiledPao-chai.Unfortunately,thesecretisleakedtoTai-yu,andshefallsunconsciousand

beginsspittingblood.

OnPao-yu'sweddingday,LinTai-yuisleftalone--sickinbed,accompaniedonlybyTzu-chuan.She

breathesherlastinloneliness,grief,andhatred,whilePao-yugoesmerrilytotheweddingceremony,

assumingthathisbridewillbeLinTai-yu.WhenhefindshimselfmarriedtoHsuehPao-chai,hegoesout

ofhismind.

Meanwhile,theImperialconcubinediesandChiaShehisdeprivedofhisrankforconspiringwith

provincialofficialstotakeadvantageoftheweak.Hispropertiesareconfiscated,andthehouseofChia

Chengisinvolved.Thegrandmotherdies,thenunMiao-yuiskidnapped,WangHsi-fenglosesauthority

anddiesinregretandwithaguiltyconscience.

Pao-yu'sillnessgrowsworseuntilheisonthepointofdeath--whensuddenlyamonkappearswithPaoyu's

lostjade.Momentarily,Pao-yuseemstobehimselfagain,butsuddenlyhefaintsawayagainatthe

sightofthemonkandregainsconsciousnessonlyafteraterriblenightmare.

Pao-yuthenchangeshiswaysanddeterminestorestorethereputationofhishouse.Thefollowingday,he

takestheofficialexamination,placingseventhonthelist.Pao-yu'swife,Pao-chai,ispregnant,but

nonetheless,hesuddenlydecidestoleaveheranddisappearsaftertheexamination.

ChinCheng,onhiswaybacktoPekingafterattendinghismother'sfuneralinNanking,staysatPiling

Stationonesnowynight,andthereheseesamanwithashavedhead,barefeet,andwearingaredwoolen

cape.Themanbowstohimand,oncloseinspection,herecognizesPao-yu.BeforeChiaChengcanspeak

tohim,though,aBuddhistmonkandaTaoisttakePao-yuaway.ChiaChengrunsafterthem,butthey

havevanished,andallhecanseeisastretchofsnowywaste.Thatisthemainthreadofthestory.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19916

ThenarrativeitselfisbasedonthepredictioninPao-yu'sdream,yearsago,whenPao-yufoundhimselfin

afairyland,wherehemetagoddessandwasshowntheregisteroftheTwelveBeautiesofChinling.He

sawpicturesandpoemswhichhecouldnotunderstand.TheGoddessorderedhermaidstosingtwelve

songs,thelastofwhichrunsasfollows:Thehighofficial'sfortuneswilldecline;therichman'sgoldand

silverwillmeltaway;thekindofheartwillescapedeath;theheartlesswillreceivetheirjustdeserts;he

whotakeslifewillpaywithhisownlife;hewhocausestearswillweeptillhiseyesaredry;onewhosees

throughthisworldwillenterholyorders;oneenslavedbylovewilldieafruitlessdeath;whenallfoodis

gone,birdswillflytothewoods,leavingnothingbutbare,nakedearthbehind.

Thestorylineofthenovelroughlyparallelsthesepredictions.TheoutwardmagnificenceoftheChia

familycannotdisguiseitsdeclineanddeteriorationforever.TheChiafamilymembersareaccustomedto

livinginluxury,andcertainparasiticlandowners(suchasChinShehandChinChen)arenothingbut

dissoluteanddissipatedpeople.Inordertoenjoyalifeofextravagance,theyputincreasingpressureon

thepeasantsandextractheavytaxesfromtheirtenants.Relyingontheirwealthandpoliticalinfluence,

theybullyinnocentcitizensandmaids(suchasHsuehPanandWangHsi-feng)bycontemptibleand

cruelmethods.Therefore,tragedybeginstoovershadowthefamily'ssplendor.

Therearemanyconflictsunderminingthenetworkofthisenormoushousehold--conflictsbetween

mastersandservants,betweenwivesandconcubines,betweenlinealdescendantsandsonsanddaughters

byconcubines.Alltheseinternalstrugglesleadtoplottingagainsteachotherandseveralsuicides.Chin

Ko-chinghangsherself;Pao-yu'sgoodfriendChinChungdiesyoung;themaidChin-chuandrowns

herselfinawell;SecondSisterYucommitssuicidebyswallowinggold;Pao-yu'sfavoritemaid,Chinwen,

diessoonafterbeingdismissedbecauseofLadyWang'sprejudiceagainsther.EvenPao-yuhimself

comesunderanevilinfluenceandisthetargetofanassassinationplotbyLadyChaoandherson,Chin

Huan.

GrannyLiu'svisitstotheChinfamilybearconvincingwitnesstothehypocrisyofthelandlordclassand

theirextravagance.Hersimpleandpoorlifestylestandsinsharpcontrasttotheirluxuriouswayoflife.

TheChiafamily'sarbitrarinesstowardsordinarypeopleandservantsleadstoHoSan'scollusionwith

brigandstorobLadyDowagerofhergoldandsilversothattheChiafamily'sdeclineisaccelerated.Chia

Sheh'streacheryandChiaChen'slecheryresultintheconfiscationofthefamilyproperty.Finally,

however,theEmperor'sgeneralamnestypardonsChiaShehandChiaChen,ChiaChengisallowedto

returntohisoriginalposition,andtheconfiscatedpropertyisrestored.

LISTOFCHARACTERS

ChiaChing

ChiaTai-hua'sson;fatherofChiaChenandHsi-chun.Hegivesuphisnobletitleanddevotestherestof

hislifetostudyingreligionandtakingelixirseveryday,hopingtobecomeanimmortal.

ChiaChen

ChiaChing'sson;MadameYu'shusband.HissonChiaJungismarriedtoChinKo-ching.ChiaChenisa

dissipatedpersonandhasanillicitrelationshipwithhisdaughter-in-law.

Hsi-chun(CompassionSpring)

ChiaCling'sdaughter.SheisongoodtermswiththenunMiao-yuandisplanningonbecominganun

herself.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19917

ChiaJung

ChiaChen'sson.HisfatherbuyshimapositionasanofficerofthefifthrankintheImperialGuard.Chia

Jungisalsoadissoluteperson,dallyingwithbeautifulgirlswheneverhecan.

ChinKo-ching

ChiaJung'swife;shecomesfromapoorscholar'sfamily.HerbrotherChinChungisagoodfriendof

Pao-yu.

LadyDowager(theMatriarch)

DaughterofMarquisShihofChinling;wifeofChiaTai-shan,whohasbeendeadformanyyears.Shehas

twosons,ChiaShehandChiaCheng,andadaughter,ChiaMin.Sheissoattachedtohergrandsonsand

granddaughtersthatshemakesthemstudyintheJungMansionsothatshecanbenearthem.

ChiaSheh

SonofLadyDowager.Afterthedeathofhisfather,heinheritsthetitleofDukeofJungkuo.Heisa

lecherwhofanciesbeautifulgirlsandbulliesweaklings.Heisarrested,butisreleasedbecauseofthe

Emperor'samnesty.

LadyHsing

ChiaSheh'swife.HerdissatisfactionandjealousycausehertourgeLadyWangtodeclarethatasearch

bemadethroughouttheGrandViewGarden.

ChiaLien

ChiaSheh'sson;WangHsi-feng'shusband.Likeothers,hetooisdissoluteandsecretlymarriesSecond

SisterYusothatshecanbehisconcubine.

WangHsi-feng(Phoenix)

ChiaLien'swife;LadyWang'sniece.Sheispretty,clever,andcompetent;sheisalsotalkative,greedy,

andcunning.SherunstheChiahouseholdaffairsexpertly,butsometimesusesherpowerandpositionto

bullytheweak.Shediesatragicdeath.

Chiao-chieh

PrettydaughterofChiaLienandWangHsi-feng.

ChiaCheng

YoungersonofLadyDowager.Uponthedeathofhisfather,theEmperorgiveshimtherankofAssistant

Secretary;thenherisestotherankofUnderSecretaryintheBoardofWorks.Heisstrictwithhisson,

Pao-yu,hopingthatPao-yuwillenhancethefamilyreputation.

Ying-chun(WelcomeSpring)

ChiaSheh'sdaughterbyaconcubine.Sheisalenient,weakgirlandfinallymarriesthevillainSunShaotsu.

LadyChao

ChiaCheng'sconcubine.Herson,ChiaHuan,hatesPao-yuandplotswithhismothertokillPao-yu.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19918

ChiaChu

LadyWang'selderson.Hepassesthedistrictexaminationatfourteen,marriesbeforeheistwenty,and

hasason,ChiaLan,butsuddenlyfallsillanddies,leavingawidow,LiWan.

LiWan

WifeofChiaCheng'slatesonChiaChu.HersonChiaLanfinallypassestheofficialexamination,along

withPao-yu.Shetakesnointerestintheoutsideworld,contenttowaitonhereldersandlookafterher

son.

Yuan-chun

ChiaCheng'sdaughter.Hernameissymbolicofthefactthatshewasbornonthefirstdayoftheyear.

Whilesheisstillayoungwoman,sheischosenastheImperialconcubine,andtheGrandViewGardenis

builtforthepurposeofherfirstroyalvisithome.

ChiaPao-yu

ChiaCheng'sson;hecameintotheworldwithapieceofclear,brilliantlycoloredjadeinhismouth.Heis

stronglyattachedtothegirlsinGrandViewGarden.Heisn'tinterestedinhonors,advancement,oran

officialreputation.ThefeudalmarriagesystempreventshimfrommarryingLinTai-yu,thegirlwhomhe

lovesmost.Intheend,hegoesawaywithamonk.

HsuehPao-chai(PreciousVirtue)

AuntHsueh'sdaughter,ChiaPao-yu'swife.Sheisafilialdaughterandafaithfulwife,amodelofthe

feudal,ethicalnorm.

Tan-chun(QuestSpring)

ChiaCheng'sdaughterbytheconcubineLadyChao.Sheisacompetent,butrebelliousgirl.Sheorganizes

apoetryclubforthegirlsinGrandViewGarden.

LinJu-hai

LadyDowager'sson-in-law;LinTai-yu'sfather.

LinTai-yu(BlackJade)

LinJu-hai'sdaughter,LadyDowager'sgranddaughter.Uponhermother'sdeath,Tai-yucomestolive

withtheChiafamily.Sheisadelicateandoutstandinglyintellectualgirl,althoughabitsentimental.She

lovesChiaPao-yuverymuch,butherdelicatehealthandsharptonguekeepherfrombeinginfavorwith

LadyDowagerandLadyWang.Shediesforheridealoflove.

ChiaTai-ju

PrincipaloftheChiafamilyclanschool;ChiaJui'sgrandfather.

ChiaJui

ChiaTai-ju'sgrandson.HeisanamorouspersonbutmeetshismatchwhenhetriestoflirtwithWang

Hsi-feng.HediesbecauseofoneofHsi-feng'scunningtricks.

ShihHsiang-yun(RiverMist)

LadyDowager'sgranddaughter;Pao-yu'scousin.ShecomesoftentoseeLadyDowagerandstayswith

thegirlsoftheChiafamily.Sheisprettyandtalented.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.19919

AuntHsueh

HsuehPao-chai'smother,fromtheWangfamily.Shehasoneson,HsuehPan,agood-for-nothingwho

killstwopersons.Heisarrestedforthesecondmurderbutispardonedbyanamnesty.

HsiaChin-kuei

Daughterofaroyalmerchant;HsuehPan'swife.Sheisprettybuttreacherous--ashrew.Shemistreats

HsuehPan'sconcubineHsiang-lingbadlyand,atonepoint,plotstopoisonher,butpoisonsherselfby

mistake.

Hsiang-ling

ChenShih-yin'sdaughter,Ying-lien(Lotus).Sheiskidnapped,thenseizedbyHsuehPanashis

concubine;shemarrieshimanddiesinchildbirth.

Pao-chan

HsuehPan'sconcubine.SheplotswithHsiaChin-kueitowinHsuehKo'shand.

HsuehKo

HsuehPan'scousin--akind,honest,andhelpfulperson.HefinallymarriesHsiu-yen,thedaughterofLady

Hsing'sbrotherandsister-in-law.

Hsiu-yen

Agirlfromapoorfamily,butanhonestandsensiblegirl.SheisbetrothedtoHsuehKo,and,after

marriage,theyprovetobeahappycouple.

Pao-chin

HsuehKo'ssister.Sheisatalentedgirlandhastraveledtomanyplaceswithherparents.Shemarriesthe

sonofAcademicianMei.

BailiffWu

BailiffofthemanorinBlackMountainVillage.HecomestopaytaxesandrentinkindtotheChiafamily

everyyear.

LengTzu-hsing

Son-in-lawofMr.ChouJui(thestewardoftheChiafamily),acurio-dealerinavillagetavern.Hedoes

businesswithmoniedfamilies.

ChenShih-yin

HelivesinthecityofKusuwithhiswifeanddaughterYing-lien(Lotus).Afterhisdaughterdisappears

andhishouseburns,hegoesoffwithaTaoistmonktofarawayplacesandfinallybecomesaTaoist

himself.

ChiaYu-tsun

Apoorscholar,heisappointedastheprefectofYingtianwiththehelpofChenShih-yin.Heisan

ungratefulperson,seekingonlyfameandfortune.Heisfinallyreducedtoanordinarycitizen.

CliffsNotesonDreamoftheRedChamber.199110

Miao-yu

AnunfromIronThresholdTemple.Anunconventionalperson,hereccentricitymakesherlookdown

uponallvulgarpeople.Finallysheiskidnappedandkilledbybrigands.

ThirdSisterYu

Apastwanton,sheisnowreformed.HerfailuretomarryLiuHsiang-liencauseshertocommitsuicide

withoneofLiu'sswordsinfrontofhim.

SecondSisterYu

MadameYu'ssecondsister.ShemarriesChiaLienashisconcubineandisfinallydriventosuicideby

Hsi-feng.

GrannyLiu

Apeasantwoman;mother-in-lawofoneofLadyWang'sremoteclansmen.Sheissimple,honest,and

wise.ShevisitstheChiafamilythreetimes,thefirsttwotimesforfinancialassistance.Theextravagant

lifeintheChiaMansionispresentedvividlythroughhervisitstotheChiafamily.

LiuHsiang-lien

Anorphanedsonofagoodfamily.HeteachesHsuehPanalessonbygivinghimagoodbeating.His

uprightnessmakeshimbreakhisbetrothaltoThirdSisterYubecausehethinksthatthereisnothingclean

intheChiafamily.Hewantstohavenoassociationwiththem.

LinChi-hsiaoandHisWife

StewardandstewardessoftheChiafamily.

LaiTa

ChiaCheng'ssteward.

ChiaoTa

AservantandbenefactorofChiaChen'sfatherandgrandfather.Heisaloyalandoutspokenservantand

looksdownonChiaChenandChiaJung,calli