A companion to the story of the stone : a chapter-by-chapter guide / Susan Chan Egan and Pai Hsien-yung.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Egan, Susan Chan, author.

Hsien-yung, Pai, 1937- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cao, Xueqin, approximately 1717-1763. Hong lou meng.

Cao, Xueqin.

China--Civilization--1644-1912.

China.

China--In literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (310 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, [2021]

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

The Story of the Stone (also known as Dream of the Red Chamber) is widely held to be the greatest work of Chinese literature, beloved by readers ever since it was first published in 1791. The story revolves around the young scion of a mighty clan who, instead of studying for the civil service examinations, frolics with his maidservants and girl cousins. The narrative is cast within a mythic framework in which the protagonist’s rebellion against Confucian strictures is guided by a Buddhist monk and a Taoist priest. Embedded in the novel is a biting critique of imperial China’s political and social system.This book is a straightforward guide to a complex classic that was written at a time when readers had plenty of leisure to sort through the hundreds of characters and half a dozen subplots that weave in and out of the book’s 120 chapters. Each chapter of the companion summarizes and comments on each chapter of the novel. The companion provides English-speaking readers—whether they are simply dipping into this novel or intent on a deep analysis of this masterpiece—with the cultural context to enjoy the story and understand its world.The book is keyed to David Hawkes and John Minford’s English translation of The Story of the Stone and includes an index that gives the original Chinese names and terms.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Key to Recurring Characters

1 The Origin of the Stone and the Vicissitudes of Life

2 The Jia Family’s Fortune Coldly Appraised by an Antique Dealer

3 Dai-yu’s Arrival at the Jia Household

4 A Manslaughter Cover-Up and the Xue Family’s Arrival

5 The Girls’ Destinies Revealed to a Bewildered Bao-yu

6 Bao-yu’s First Sexual Experience; Grannie Liu’s First Visit to the Jias

7 The Perspectives of Two Old Servants; Bao-yu Is Smitten by a Bashful Boy

8 Bao-yu and Bao-chai Locked in Fate

9 A Schoolhouse Brawl

10 Qin-shi’s Illness Heads Off an Accusation Against Her Brother

11 Xi-feng Visits Qin-shi; Jia Rui Flirts with Xi-feng

12 Xi-feng Sets a Trap for the Amorous Jia Rui; Dai-yu Travels South to See Her Ailing Father

13 Qin-shi’s Warning and Her Lavish Funeral

14 Xi-feng Imposes Order on the Ning Household; the Funeral Procession Is Greeted by a Prince

15 Qin Zhong Fools Around with a Nun and with Bao-yu; Xi-feng Takes a Bribe

16 Yuan-chun’s Promotion at Court; Dai-yu’s Return and Qin Zhong’s Death

17 Bao-yu’s Poetic Skills Are Tested by His Father; the Household Prepares for the Visitation

18 The Imperial Concubine’s Visit to Prospect Garden

19 Bao-yu’s Grand Bargain with Aroma and His Growing Intimacy with Dai-yu

20 Bao-yu Tries Unsuccessfully to Please Everyone; Shi Xiang-yun’s Arrival Leads to a Declaration

21 Aroma Finds an Ally in Bao-chai; Patience Seizes Evidence of Jia Lian’s Misconduct

22 An Opera Piques Bao-yu’s Interest in Monkhood; Gloomy Riddles Distress His Father

23 Bao-yu Moves with the Girls Into Prospect Garden; The Lovers Bury Fallen Flowers

24 Two Ambitious Social Climbers: Jia Yun and Crimson

25 Jia Huan and Aunt Zhao Exact Their Revenge; the Monk and the Taoist Come to the Rescue

26 Crimson Sends Jia Yun a Message; Skybright Carelessly Shuts Out Dai-yu

27 Tan-chun Repudiates Her Mother; Dai-yu Ponders Her Fate Seen in Fallen Flowers

28 Bao-yu Gives Aroma’s Sash to Jiang Yu-han; Yuan-chun, in Her Gifts, Favors Bao-chai Over Dai-yu

29 Grandmother Jia Shows Her Compassionate Side; a Matchmaking Abbot Provokes a Lovers’ Rift

30 Bao-yu Is Chastened by Bao-chai for Being Rude; He Causes Golden to Be Dismissed

31 Bao-yu Lets Skybright Rip Up Two Fans for Fun; Shi Xiang-yun Finds the Kylin Meant for Her

32 Criticism of Dai-yu Prompts Bao-yu to Avow His Love; Golden Commits Suicide

33 Bao-yu Is Savagely Beaten by His Father Due to Jiang Yu-han’s Disappearance

34 Aroma Confides Her Worries to Lady Wang; Bao-yu Sends Two Used Handkerchiefs to Dai-yu

35 Grandmother Jia Indicates Her Preference for Bao-chai; Bao-yu Makes Golden’s Sister Laugh

36 Aroma Receives an Informal Promotion; Bao-chai Hears Bao-yu Reveal He Prefers Dai-yu

37 The Founding of the Crab-flower Club

38 A Crab-Eating Feast Is Hosted by Shi Xiang-yun

39 Li Wan Laments Her Lack of an Able Assistant; Grannie Liu Is Enlisted for Entertainment

40 Grannie Liu Is Given a Tour of Prospect Garden and Made the Butt of Practical Jokes

41 The Finicky Adamantina Serves Tea; Grannie Liu Passes Out on Bao-yu’s Bed

42 Grannie Liu Names Xi-feng’s Daughter Before Departing; Bao-chai Befriends Dai-yu

43 Xi-feng Squeezes Aunt Zhou and Aunt Zhao for Her Party; Bao-yu Makes an Offering to Golden

44 Xi-feng Catches Jia Lian with a Servant’s Wife; Patience Is Struck and a Woman Hangs Herself

45 The Steward’s Son Is Made a Magistrate; Bao-chai Supplies Dai-yu with Edible Bird’s Nest

46 Jia She Tries to Take Faithful as His Concubine

47 Grandmother Jia Gives Lady Xing a Scolding; Xue Pan Is Thrashed by Liu Xiang-lian

48 Jia Lian Is Beaten by His Father for Criticizing Him; Caltrop Becomes Obsessed with Poetry

49 The Arrival of Xue Bao-qin, Xue Ke, Xing Xiu-yan, and the Li Sisters

50 Grandmother Jia Invites Herself to a Merry Gathering in a Garden Blanketed by Snow

51 Aroma Makes a Trip Home in Style; Skybright Catches a Cold

52 Xue Bao-qin Recites a Poem by a Blonde Girl; an Ailing Skybright Mends a Cloak for Bao-yu

53 Solemn Ancestral Rites Are Performed on New Year’s Eve; the Festivities Last Half a Month

54 Grandmother Jia Holds Forth at Her Banquet

55 Tan-chun Takes Charge of the Household; Xi-feng Shares Her Views of the Cousins with Patience

56 The Girls Put the Garden to Work; Jia Bao-yu Learns That He Has a Double in Zhen Bao-yu

57 Nightingale Forces Bao-yu to Declare His Love for Dai-yu; Xing Xiu-yan Is Betrothed to Xue Ke

58 A Dowager Consort’s Death Disrupts the Jia Household; the Child Actresses Stay On as Maidservants

59 Conflicts Break Out Between the Ex-Actresses and Their Foster Mothers

60 The Ex-Actresses Gang Up to Assault Aunt Zhao; Parfumée Tries to Help Fivey Join Bao-yu’s Staff

61 Fivey Is Accused of Theft; Chess Tries to Replace Cook Liu with Her Own Aunt

62 A Garden Party Is Held to Celebrate Bao-yu, Xue Bao-qin, Xing Xiu-yan, and Patience’s Birthdays

63 The Party Continues Into the Night; Jia Rong, in Mourning, Flirts with the You Sisters

64 Dai-yu Writes About Beauties in History; Jia Lian Is Urged to Take Er-jie as His Second Wife

65 Jia Lian Secretly Installs You Er-jie in a Second Household; You San-jie Enthralls Cousin Zhen

66 You San-jie Kills Herself with a Sword; Liu Xiang-lian Goes Off with a Crippled Taoist

67 Bao-chai Gives Away the Presents from Her Brother; Xi-feng Discovers Jia Lian’s Second Marriage

68 Xi-feng Lures You Er-jie Into the Rong Compound and Humiliates Jia Rong with a Bogus Lawsuit

69 Xi-feng, Feigning Kindness, Drives Er-jie to Her Death

70 The Cousins Release Their Kites; Bao-yu, Though Deeply Troubled, Catches Up on His Studies

71 Jia Zheng Comes Home for Grandmother Jia’s Birthday; Faithful Catches Chess in Flagrante

72 Jia Lian Is Driven to Pawning Grandmother Jia’s Valuables; Sunset Is Promised to a Wastrel

73 A Maidservant Shows Lady Xing a Piece of Erotica; Ying-chun Refuses to Discipline Her Staff

74 Lady Wang Turns Against Skybright; a Raid Is Conducted on Prospect Garden

75 The Zhen Clan of Nanking Is Disgraced; the Jia Men Take to Gambling

76 Grandmother Jia Resists Ending the Mid-Autumn Party; Shi Xiang-yun Commiserates with Dai-yu

77 Chess and the Ex-Actresses Are Expelled; Bao-yu and Skybright Bid Their Final Farewell

78 Lady Wang Lies About Skybright; Bao-yu Writes an Elegy to the Hibiscus Spirit

79 Jia She Arranges a Hasty Marriage for Ying-chun; Xue Pan Weds a Conceited Girl

80 Xia Jin-gui Turns the Xue Family Upside Down; Ying-chun’s Husband Treats Her Like a Slave

81 Bao-yu Learns the Limits of the Matriarch’s Power; He Is Sent Back to the Clan School

82 Aroma Probes Dai-yu on Concubines; Dai-yu Coughs Up Blood on Waking from a Nightmare

83 The Matriarch Is Told of Dai-yu’s Condition; Yuan-chun’s Illness Alarms the Jia Elders

84 Jia Zheng Considers a Bride for Bao-yu; the Matriarch Is Pleased When Bao-chai Is Suggested

85 Bao-yu Is Kept in the Dark About His Betrothal; Jia Zheng Receives a Promotion

86 Xue Pan’s Murder Charge Is Reduced; Dai-yu Teaches Bao-yu About Music

87 Dai-yu Plays a Tune That Snaps Her Qin String; Adamantina Has a Horrific Dream Vision

88 Li Wan Is Consoled by Jia Lan’s Achievement; Zhou Rui Is Kicked and Jia Yun Is Humiliated

89 The Snapped String Unnerves Bao-yu; Hearing He Is Betrothed, Dai-yu Stops Eating

90 Hearing the Bride Is to Be a Cousin, Dai-yu Rallies; the Matriarch Bans Talk of the Betrothal

91 A Timetable Is Set for Bao-yu’s Wedding; Dai-yu and Bao-yu Communicate by Talking Zen

92 Bao-yu Discusses Noble Women with Qiao-jie; Chess and Her Cousin Commit Double Suicide

93 Bao-yu Identifies with Jiang Yu-Han; Jia Qin Is Caught Seducing the Young Novices

94 Crab-flower Trees Bloom Out of Season; Bao-yu’s Jade Mysteriously Disappears

95 Yuan-chun Passes Away in the Palace; Bao-yu Turns Into a Simpleton

96 Wang Zi-teng Dies on His Way to the Capital; a Hasty Wedding Is Set Before Jia Zheng Departs

97 Bao-yu Is Tricked Into Marrying Bao-chai; Dai-yu Burns Her

Poems and Dies

98 Bao-chai Tells Bao-yu That Dai-yu Is Dead; Bao-yu Improves After Mourning for Dai-yu

99 Bao-yu Is Reconciled to Accepting Bao-chai; Jia Zheng Turns a Blind Eye to Misdeeds

100 Tan-chun Is Betrothed to Be Married Afar; Efforts to Save Xue Pan Bankrupt His Family

101 Wang Zi-teng’s Debt Strains the Wang Clan; Anxious, Xi-feng Entrusts Qiao-jie to Patience

102 An Exorcism Is Performed in the Garden; Jia Zheng Is Demoted for His Underlings’ Abuses

103 Xia Jin-gui Mistakenly Poisons Herself; Jia Yu-cun Happens on Zhen Shi-yin at a Derelict Temple

104 Jia Yun and Ni Er Vow Revenge on the Jias; Bao-yu Wants Nightingale to Know He Was Tricked

105 The Secret Police Conduct a Raid of the Jia Compound; Four Jia Men Are Arrested

106 Jia Zheng Realizes His Family Faces Financial Ruin; the Matriarch Begs Heaven to Punish Her

107 Jia She and Cousin Zhen Go Into Exile; Grandmother Jia Distributes Her Possessions

108 The Matriarch Hosts a Surprise Birthday Party; Bao-yu Wails for Dai-yu in the Desolate Garden

109 Bao-yu’s Attempt at Intimacy Is Rebuffed by Fivey; Guilt Stricken, He Makes It Up to Bao-chai

110 The Matriarch Dies with a Smile on Her Face; Lady Xing Makes Life Difficult for Xi-feng

111 A Ghost Shows Faithful How to Hang Herself; the Matriarch’s Apartment Is Looted

112 Adamantina Is Abducted by Pirates; Xi-chun Resolves to Become a Nun

113 Grannie Liu Playfully Offers to Be Qiao-jie’s Matchmaker; Nightingale Takes Pity on Bao-yu

114 Xi-feng Dies Babbling of the Register; Wang Ren and Qiao-jie Antagonize Each Other

115 Xi-chun Declares She Intends to Take Vows; Bao-yu Relapses After Meeting His Look-Alike

116 Bao-yu Has a Second Dream of Revelations; His Father Takes the Coffins to the South for Burial

117 Bao-yu Reaches an Agreement with the Monk; Jia Lian Leaves Jia Qiang and Jia Yun in Charge

118 Qiao-jie Is Offered to a “Mongol” Prince; Bao-yu Studies to Discharge His Filial Obligations

119 Bao-yu Is Missing After the Examinations; the Emperor Declares a General Amnesty

120 Bao-yu Bids His Father Farewell and Vanishes in the Snow; Aroma Marries the Actor Jiang Yu-han

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-231-55313-7

OCLC:

1176320384