China News Service, Beijing, November 24th (Reporter Shangguan Yun) As a great work in the history of Chinese literature, "A Dream of Red Mansions" has been widely circulated since its publication. Its grand structure and rich content are far beyond the comparison of ordinary works. It was adapted into a film and television drama.

　　Today, it still has the charm that reaches the hearts of the people.

Hot topics related to "Dream of Red Mansions" appear on the Internet from time to time. Some people spend their efforts to copy the food in the book, and some people re-interpret the characters. Therefore, sister Lin has an additional nickname of "Lin Dangdang".

　　According to Zhan Dan, the vice president of the China Society of Dreams of Red Mansions, this just shows that the more classic a work is, the more it can find the "point" to release its charm in different eras.

Lin Daiyu: "Lin Dangdang" in the Internet Age

　　There are many characters in "A Dream of Red Mansions", the protagonists are radiant, and the little characters are also vividly written.

In the Internet age, many of these characters have been reinterpreted and interpreted from multiple angles.

Image source: screenshot of the 87 version of "Dream of Red Mansions"

　　A more typical one is Lin Daiyu, she got a nickname "Lin Dangdang", "Lin Daiyu's Crazy Literature" once became popular, "Anyway, you only get such a small salary, and you still have to order people around the clock?" Many netizens never tired of teasing.

　　From the point of view of personality, Lin Daiyu has become the "Lin Dangdang" of the Internet age, and there are already traces to follow.

In the original book, both she and Xue Baochai are extremely smart people, but Lin Daiyu is not willing to compromise with reality, and sometimes "sees the truth, but wants to tell the truth", and she doesn't complain.

　　Coupled with her more delicate thoughts and sharp words, she seems to be the most annoying person in the Grand View Garden.

Because she was dissatisfied with the order in which the palace flowers were sent, she hated Zhou Rui's family, "If others don't pick the ones left, they won't give them to me."

　　Others praised Baochai for his heart; Daiyu felt unhappy, and sneered again: "He is still limited in other things, but he is more careful about the things these people carry."

　　Similar behavior is now interpreted by many netizens as "true temperament".

Zhan Dan said that there have always been reinterpretations of "Dream of Red Mansions".

In the 1920s and 1930s, Chen Mengshao adapted "A Dream of Red Mansions" into a drama "Jiangdong Flower Lord", and the plot changed a lot.

　　For example, Wu Jinxiao came to Jia’s mansion to pay the rent, and faced Jia Zhen’s accusation, he simply planned to fight by reducing the rent; Jia Baoyu bid farewell to Jia Zheng after he became a monk, saying “don’t interfere with the marriage” and so on.

Lu Xun commented on "Dream of Red Mansions" in "Jiangdong Flower Master·Xiaoyin", "It's only the fate, and there are all kinds of things because of the readers' vision."

　　When "Lin Daiyu's Crazy Literature" was the hottest, some people worried that it would "break the classics".

But Zhan Dan believes that the more classic a work is, the more it can find the "point" to release its charm in different eras. Maybe in a few years, people will have new ways to play.

Grandma Liu: A Little Person with Wisdom

　　There was a saying that the two wisest people in "Dream of Red Mansions" are Mother Jia and Grandma Liu. Age determines the richness of life experience of the two old ladies, and personality and background endow them with different ways of doing things.

Image source: screenshot of the 87 version of "Dream of Red Mansions"

　　It was the first time I came to the unfamiliar Rongguo Mansion to ask for a living. Grandma Liu's performance was not satisfactory, and her speech and behavior were a bit vulgar.

　　It's funny but not annoying.

When he came to Rongguo Mansion for the second time, Grandma Liu's wisdom was fully demonstrated. He saw through the thoughts of the female family members of Jia's mansion, so he cooperated with Yuanyang and Sister Feng's plan, and did not hesitate to "play ugly" to make everyone laugh.

　　After the banquet is over, there is a small detail, which is very intriguing.

Seeing Li Wan and Sister Feng sitting and eating, Grandma Liu sighed: "It's nothing else, I just love your family's way of doing things. It's weird to say that 'the etiquette is for everyone'."

　　With a few words, Sister Feng hurriedly laughed along with her, and Yuanyang also came over to apologize, "Don't be upset, grandma, I will apologize to you old man."

　　Grandma Liu replied decently, "If I want to be annoyed, I won't say anything."

　　"Grandma Liu's words are quite ingenious. They can be seen as a sigh, or as an opportunity to mock the Jia family for violating the way of hospitality, and let the other party have no clue." Zhan Dan believes that this is It shows that Grandma Liu is a very smart person.

　　Regrettably, "Dream of Red Mansions" is not finished. Zhan Dan speculates that, as a structural character, Grandma Liu may have other arrangements for entering the Rongguo Mansion three times. It is not just from her perspective to tell how a family turned from prosperity to decline. .

　　"Moreover, judging from Qiaojie's verdict "Liu Yuqing", it was Grandma Liu who saved Qiaojie later. The author may want to try this ending: let Grandma Liu take her to the countryside to live an ordinary life. Can you live a good life? Instead of Qiaojie as written by Cheng Gaoben, let her be matched up to be the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family in the country." Zhan Dan speculated.

Which version is the most reliable?

　　Not only are there many characters in the book, but a little reading of the articles related to "Hong Xue" will easily confuse the various versions of "Dream of Red Mansions": Cheng Jia version, Cheng Yi version, Gengchen version, Jiaxu version, Yi Mao version... There are so many varieties .

"A Dream of Red Mansions" book shadow.

Published by Zhonghua Book Company

　　After "Dream of Red Mansions" was written, it was first circulated in the form of manuscripts.

There is a view that Cao Xueqin wrote the whole book, but only the first eighty chapters have been handed down, and most of the early manuscripts are titled "Zhiyanzhai Re-evaluation of Stone".

　　During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E compiled and published 120 chapters of movable type for the first time. Since then, "Dream of Red Mansions" has a printed version; it was revised later.

In order to distinguish, the former is called "Cheng Jiaben" and the latter is called "Cheng Yiben".

　　But who is the author of the next forty chapters is still controversial.

According to Zhan Dan, one theory is that it is Cao Xueqin's original work, but it is just an unmodified draft;

　　In fact, many manuscripts have subtle differences in terms of headings and words.

Zhan Dan believes that there are many typographical errors in the manuscripts, some of which are misidentifications during copying, and there are also cases of over-copying or omissions during copying.

　　"In different versions, there are many minor changes. For example, when Grandma Liu entered the Grand View Garden, someone asked where the breakfast was served. In one version, Jia's mother replied, 'Your third sister's place is fine', but Cheng Ben was' Your third sister is good." He said.

　　Zhan Dan explained that although there was only one word difference, the addition of the word "Ji" matched the situation when everyone was walking to Tanchun's courtyard, and it also showed the calmness and precision of the ancestor's speech.

Who is Zhiyanzhai? 

　　In the literary world of "A Dream of Red Mansions", Zhiyanzhai is a very special existence. In some manuscripts handed down to the world, you can see this person's comments on the plot and the direction of the story, that is, the famous "Zhiyanzhai" in the red academic circle. ".

Image source: screenshot of the 87 version of "Dream of Red Mansions"

　　However, Zhi Yanzhai's identity is a mystery.

Many researchers believe that this person is real, but some people think that "Zhiyanzhai" is Cao Xueqin's pseudonym, and the so-called Zhipi is a kind of self-evaluation.

　　Zhan Dan tends to believe that Zhi Yanzhai is a person who has a close relationship with Cao Xueqin, because his comments reveal his familiarity with the author and the content of his creations, including character creation, structure arrangement, etc. in the book, like spoilers .

　　"In addition, Ji Husou also wrote some comments on "Dream of Red Mansions". Some people think that he and Zhiyanzhai are the same person." Zhan Dan disagrees with this view, "From the tone and style of the comments, this It should be two people."

　　Although there are still mysteries, what is certain is that "Dream of Red Mansions" is still blooming with brilliance today.

As Zhan Dan said, the descriptions of food and other aspects in the book provide a place for readers to let their imagination run wild.

(Finish)