Redology
Encyclopedia
Redology is the study of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber
, one of the Four Classics of China. There are many researchers in this field, most can be divided into four general groups. The first group is the commentators, such as Zhou Chun, Xu Fengyi, Chen Yupi, and others. The second group is the index group, which mainly includes Wang Mengruan and Cai Yuanpei
. The third group is the textual critics, including Hu Shi and Yu Pingbo
. The final group is the literary thought group. There are quite a few researchers in this group, most notably Zhou Ruchang.
There are four branches of intensive research:
Research in later periods are built on these foundations. For example, recently, renowned writer Liu Xinwu
has authored Qin Studies, the culmination of a decade of research into Qin Keqing's pioneering research on Dream of the Red Chamber.
Professor Liang Guizhi believes that there are four schools of redological study:
Xia Yi: This includes Cao Studies, Qin Studies, Comparative Studies, Zhi Studies and Investigative Studies. Qin Studies refers to the study of Cao Xueqin, the author himself, for which there is very few information available.
Guan Yi: This field studies the society set in the novel. This includes the people, arts, culture etc.
Seventeen Debates
Nine Public Cases
Four Mysteries
Three Dead Knots (dead knot, a Chinese term for a knot that can not be untied. Thus, the hope of solving these mysteries is assumed to be nil.)
Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber , composed by Cao Xueqin, is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It was composed in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese vernacular literature and is generally acknowledged to be a pinnacle of...
, one of the Four Classics of China. There are many researchers in this field, most can be divided into four general groups. The first group is the commentators, such as Zhou Chun, Xu Fengyi, Chen Yupi, and others. The second group is the index group, which mainly includes Wang Mengruan and Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei
Cai Yuanpei was a Chinese educator and the president of Peking University. He was known for his critical evaluation of the Chinese culture that led to the influential May Fourth Movement...
. The third group is the textual critics, including Hu Shi and Yu Pingbo
Yu Pingbo
Yú Píngbó , former name Yú Mínghéng and courtesy name Píngbó , was an essayist, poet, historian, Redologist, and critic....
. The final group is the literary thought group. There are quite a few researchers in this group, most notably Zhou Ruchang.
- Critical thought - comprising scholars such as Zhou Chun, Xu Fengyi and Chen Yupi.
- Allegorical thought - comprising scholars such as Wang Mengruan and Cai Yuanpei.
- Investigative thought - principally Hu Shi, Yu Pingbo and Zhou Ruchang;
- Literary thought.
Intensive and Extensive Research
Professor Liang Guizhi divides redological research into two areas: intensive research, or research into realist novels of ancient times as represented by Dream of the Red Chamber, and extensive research, which deals with texts written on its setting and background.There are four branches of intensive research:
- Cao Studies
- research into the family history and life of Cao XueqinCao XueqinCao Xueqin was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
and how he is related to the novel.
- research into the family history and life of Cao Xueqin
- Comparative Studies
- chiefly concerned with distinguishing between Zhi YanzhaiRouge InkstoneRouge Inkstone or Red Inkstone is the pseudonym of an early, mysterious commentator of the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber...
's editions (of which there are currently more than thirteen) and the unadulterated original (block-print edition). Research in comparative studies is also primarily involved with handwritten copies as they may bear closer resemblance to the original manuscripts.
- chiefly concerned with distinguishing between Zhi Yanzhai
- Zhi Studies
- as Zhiyan Zhai (aka Rouge Inkstone) was known to be a close friend of Cao Xueqin through whose notes can be found the original plot of chapters 80 onwards and anecdotal evidence of real-life circumstances from Cao's life.
- Investigative Studies
- investigate or attest the plot of the final 28 chapters in reference to that of the first 80. (According to Zhou Ruchang there were only approximately 110 chapters in the original version)
Research in later periods are built on these foundations. For example, recently, renowned writer Liu Xinwu
Liu Xinwu
Liu Xinwu is a Chinese author, and one of the earliest proponents of the post-Maoist wave of Chinese literature.-Biography:Born in the province of Sichuan, his family moved to Beijing, a city that figures prominently in his work, in 1950...
has authored Qin Studies, the culmination of a decade of research into Qin Keqing's pioneering research on Dream of the Red Chamber.
Redological Schools
Most people believe that these can be divided into three schools: allegorical, archetypal and literary.Professor Liang Guizhi believes that there are four schools of redological study:
- The school of literary criticism initiated from a Western literary perspective of the novel, adopted by Wang GuoweiWang GuoweiWang Guowei , courtesy name Jing'an or Baiyu , was a Chinese scholar, writer and poet...
from the philosophical thought of Schopenhauer. - The school of allegory that links Dream of the Red Chamber to historical events during the Qing dynasty, later represented by Cai Yuanpei, or Bao Jiadong's claim that the novel is a general account of culture within the Eight BannersEight BannersThe Eight Banners were administrative divisions into which all Manchu families were placed. They provided the basic framework for the Manchu military organization...
system of the Qing dynasty. - The largely refuted school that claims, as in Divided Dream of the Red Chamber co-written by Huo Guoling, Huo Lijun and Huo Jiping, that Cao Xueqing wrote the novel for a girl whom he admired, who later entered the palace as consort to the Yongzheng EmperorYongzheng EmperorThe Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
; Cao, in order to realize his political ideals, plotted with her in the fatal poisoning of the emperor, but was then usurped of would-be political rights by the Qianlong EmperorQianlong EmperorThe Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
. - The investigative school as represented by Hu Shi and Yu Pingbo, advocating that the novel was in at least some part autobiographical; this school is the brainchild of Zhou Ruchang, the founder of the comparative studies branch and the initiator of the school of literary thought within redology. Zhou is responsible for raising redological research to its peak within Chinese culture and for creating its current sense of reverence and prestige while at the same time pointing out its failings; he believes that Dream of the Red Chamber is a 'universal key' to the culture of China.
Redology: Xia Yi and Guan Yi
It is also possible to categorize Redology into two themes.Xia Yi: This includes Cao Studies, Qin Studies, Comparative Studies, Zhi Studies and Investigative Studies. Qin Studies refers to the study of Cao Xueqin, the author himself, for which there is very few information available.
Guan Yi: This field studies the society set in the novel. This includes the people, arts, culture etc.
Redological Debates and Mysteries
There are a vast number of redologists and thus discords are difficult to avoid; according to Liu Mengqi's records there have been Seventeen Debates, Nine Public Cases, Four Mysteries and Three Dead Knots.Seventeen Debates
- Hu ShihHu ShihHu Shih , born Hu Hung-hsing , was a Chinese philosopher, essayist and diplomat. His courtesy name was Shih-chih . Hu is widely recognized today as a key contributor to Chinese liberalism and language reform in his advocacy for the use of written vernacular Chinese...
and Cài YuánpéiCai YuanpeiCai Yuanpei was a Chinese educator and the president of Peking University. He was known for his critical evaluation of the Chinese culture that led to the influential May Fourth Movement...
debate - The location of Dream of the Red Chamber
- Are the feet of the female character in the novel boundFoot bindingFoot binding was the custom of binding the feet of young girls painfully tight to prevent further growth. The practice probably originated among court dancers in the early Song dynasty, but spread to upper class families and eventually became common among all classes. The tiny narrow feet were...
or not? - Debate in 1954
- Li Xifan and He QifangHe QifangHe Qifang was a Chinese poet, essayist, literary critic and redologist. He was born in Wanxian, Sichuan Province, which is now Wanzhou District, Chongqing Municipality. He studied Philosophy at Peking University. Later in his life, he served as the director of the Institute of Literature at the...
's war of words - Regarding "Fen Gua" and "Dian Xi Qiao"
- When did Cao XueqinCao XueqinCao Xueqin was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
die? - The debate between Wu Shican and Yi Tengshu on "The Introduction of Tang Cun"
- The authenticity of "Fei Yi Ji Ji Gao" (a piece of work with a title that means "The Collection of Draft of the Abandoned Arts")
- About Cao XueqinCao XueqinCao Xueqin was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
's self portrait - Regarding the "Shi" Poem by Cao XueqinCao XueqinCao Xueqin was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
- Is Cao XueqinCao XueqinCao Xueqin was a Qing Dynasty Chinese writer, best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
the real author of the novel? - The value of thirty years of redology?
- What exactly is redology?
- The pen war between Fan Conkui and Yu Fuguan ("Pen war" in here means a debate)
- Discussion of the Two Worlds of the Red Chamber by Zhao Gang and Yu Shiying
- The storm between Tang Degang and Xia Zhiqing ("Storm" in here means a debate with great rigor)
Nine Public Cases
- Xue BaochaiXue BaochaiXue Baochai is one of the principal characters in the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is extremely beautiful and socially graceful. Her attributes complement those of her cousin Lin Daiyu...
and Lin DaiyuLin DaiyuLin Daiyu is one of the principal characters of Cao Xueqin's classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is portrayed as a well-educated, intelligent and beautiful young woman. The romance between Daiyu and Jia Baoyu forms one of the main threads of the book... - How to evaluate last forty chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber
- Are there anti-Qing dynasty sentiments in Dream of the Red Chamber
- The authenticity of Chapters 64 and 67
- Who is the author of the "Fan Li" from the Jia Wu Edition?
- The edition systems of Dream of the Red Chamber
- Where is Cao's ancestry native place?
- What color flag does Cao's family belong to in Qing's eight color flagEight BannersThe Eight Banners were administrative divisions into which all Manchu families were placed. They provided the basic framework for the Manchu military organization...
system? - Mystery of the missing Jing Edition
Four Mysteries
- Mystery of Jia Yuanchun's Deliberation (as in a legal deliberation)
- Mystery of Jia Yuanchun's "Hao Shi Zhong" Song ("Hao Shi Zhong" meaning Good Ending)
- Why is the book called "Dream of the Red Chamber"?
- Mystery of the Twenty Jue Ju (Jue Ju, literally translated to "end sentence" is form of Chinese poetry)
Three Dead Knots (dead knot, a Chinese term for a knot that can not be untied. Thus, the hope of solving these mysteries is assumed to be nil.)
- Who is Zhiyan Zhai (Rouge InkstoneRouge InkstoneRouge Inkstone or Red Inkstone is the pseudonym of an early, mysterious commentator of the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber...
)? - Who is the son of Cao Xueqin (or who succeeded Cao)
- Who is(are) the Author(s) of the subsequent work? (There is wide belief that Cao Xueqin died shortly after the completion of Chapter 80 out of the 120 Chapters from the "Complete" editions)