An Exploration into Cao Xueqin's Notion of Novel Writing through the Titles of His Dream of the Red Chamber

Abstract

Abstract: Cao Xueqin’s novel Dream of the Red Chamber had five different titles. These titles reflect the author’s different notions of novel writing. The title A Precious Mirror to Love Affair implies an allegorical discipline, the titles The Story of the Stone and Emotional Monk’s Record indicates authentic record of the real things, the title Twelve Beauties of Jinling tries to be a legend to question the world, and the final title A Dream of the Red Chamber expresses the notion of "a dream being the same as a play." The change of titles reflected the evolution of Cao Xueqin's notion of novel writing in different stages of creative writing.

Key words: Cao Xueqin; Dream of a Red Chamber, book title, notion of novel writing, evolution

Li Qingyu. An Exploration into Cao Xueqin's Notion of Novel Writing through the Titles of His Dream of the Red Chamber[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2014, 34(6): 138-145.

References

爱新觉罗·永瑢:《四库全书总目》。北京：中华书局，1965年。
[Aisin-Gioro, Yongrong. General Catalog of Complete Library of Four Treasuries. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1965. ]
爱新觉罗·裕瑞：《枣窗闲笔》。上海：上海古籍出版社，1984年。
[Aisin-Gioro, Yurui. Idle Essays of Jujube Window. Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1984. ]
班固：《汉书》第9册。北京：中华书局，1962。
[Ban, Gu. The Book of Han. Vol.9. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1962. ]
邓遂夫校订：《脂砚斋重评石头记甲戌校本》。北京：作家出版社，2010年。
[Deng, Suifu, ed. Zhiyanzhai Critical Version of The Story of the Stone Jiaxu Edition. Beijing: Writers Publishing House, 2010. ]
——：《脂砚斋重评石头记庚辰校本》。北京：作家出版社，2010年。
[----. Ed. Zhiyanzhai Critical Version of The Story of the Stone Gengchen Edition. Beijing: Writers Publishing House, 2010. ]
胡应麟：《少室山房笔丛》。北京：中华书局，1958年。
[Hu,Yinglin. Essays from Shaoshi Mountain Studio. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1958. ]
宋广波编：《胡适红学研究资料全编》。北京：北京图书馆出版社，2005年。
[Song, Guangbo, ed. Complete Collection of Hu Shi’s Studies on A Dream of the Red Chamber. Beijing: Beijing Library Publishing House, 2005. ]
金埴：《不下带编巾箱说》。北京：中华书局，1992年。
[Jin,Zhi. Buxiadai Essays, Jinxiang Comments. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1992. ]
纪昀：《阅微草堂笔记》。扬州：广陵书社，1983年。
[Ji,Yun. Notes from Yuewei Thatched Cottage. Yangzhou: Guanglin Book Society,1983. ]
鲁迅：“中国小说的历史的变迁”，《鲁迅全集》第九卷。北京：人民文学出版社，2005年。
[Lu, Xun. “The Transformation of Chinese Novel History.” Complete Works of Lu Xun. Vol.9. Beijing: People’s Literature Publishing House, 2005. ]
——：《中国小说史略》。上海：上海古籍出版社，2006。
[- - -. A Brief History of Chinese Fiction. Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Book Publishing House, 2006. ]
李渔：《闲情偶寄》，江巨荣，卢寿荣校注。上海：上海古籍出版社，2000年。
[Li, Yu. Casual Essays of Idle Feelings. Ed. Jiang Jurong and Lu Shourong. Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Publishing House, 2000. ]
李忠明：“中国古代小说概念的演变与小说文体的形成”，《明清小说研究》(2005):12。
[Li, Zhongming. “The Evolution of the Concept of Chinese Ancient Fictions and the Formation of the Style of Fiction.” Study on the Novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (2005): 12. ]
浦安迪：《红楼梦批语偏全》。北京：北京大学出版社，2003年。
[H. Plaks, Andrew. On the Comments on A Dream of Red Chamber. Beijing: Beijing University Publishing House, 2003. ]
司马光：“进《资治通鉴》表”，《全宋文》第54册，曾枣庄，刘琳主编。上海：上海辞书出版社，2006年。
[Sima, Guang. “A Letter Submitted as an Explanation for Comprehensive Mirror in Aid for Governance.” Complete Prose Works in the Song Dynasty. Vol.54. Eds. Zeng Zaozhuang and Liu Ling. Shanghai: Lexicographic Publishing House, 2006. ]
汤显祖:“复甘义麓”，《汤显祖诗文集》下册，徐朔方笺校。上海：上海古籍出版社，1982年。
[Tang, Xianzu. “A Reply to Gan Yilu.” Collected Writings of Tang Xianzu. Vol.2. Ed. Xu Shuofang. Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1982. ]
谢肇淛：《五杂俎》。上海：上海书店，2001年。
[Xie, Zaozhi. Five Miscellanies. Shanghai: Shanghai Bookstore Publishing House, 2001. ]
虞集：“写韵轩记”，《道园学古录》(卷三十八)，《四部丛刊》（初编）。北京：商务印书馆， 1922年。
[Yu, ji. “Notes of Xieyun Veranda.” Records of Ancient Learning from the Dao Garden. Vol.38. Collection of Four Branches of Books (The first edition). Beijing: The Commercial Press, 1922. ]
吴世昌：《红楼梦探源外编》。上海：上海古籍出版社，1980年。
[Wu, Shichang. The Outer Series of The Origin of A Dream in Red Chamber. Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publish House, 1980. ]
张爱玲：《红楼梦魇》。北京：北京十月文艺出版社，2009年。
[Zhang, Ailing. Nightmare in the Red Chamber. Beijing: Beijing October Literature and Art Publish House, 2009. ]
朱淡文：《红楼梦论源》。南京：江苏古籍出版社，1992年。
[Zhu, Danwen. On the Origin of A Dream of the Red Chamber. Nanjing: Jiangsu Ancient Books Publishing House, 1992. ]
赵士麟：“《江花梦》序”，《江花梦》（影印本），古本戏曲丛刊编委会编。上海：上海古籍出版社，1986年
[Zhao, Shilin. “A Preface to A Dream of River Flower.” A Dream of River Flower (facsimile edition). Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1986. ]
赵毅衡：《苦恼的叙事者——中国小说的叙述形式与中国文化》。北京：北京十月文艺出版社，1994年。
[Zhao, YiHeng. Anguished Narrator: Chinese Fiction Narrative Form and Chinese Culture. Beijing: Beijing October Literature and Art Publishing House, 1994. ]

[1]	Kang Xin. On the Absence of the Image of “the Rickshaw Puller” in Left-Wing Literature [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2022, 42(6): 145-152.
[2]	Peter Fenves. "A Close Affinity with the Concept of the Dao": Toward Walter Benjamin's Idea of Revolution [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2020, 40(6): 75-84.
[3]	Wang Xiaohui. Zhang Taiyan's View of Literary Language and Qian Xuantong's "May Fourth" Literary Revolution [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2020, 40(5): 144-155.
[4]	Luo Chonghong. On the Formation Mechanism of Contemporary Discourse on the Public [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2020, 40(4): 206-217.
[5]	Zeng Xiaofeng. The Modernity and Dilemma of Art Revolution [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2020, 40(1): 81-89.
[6]	Xu Xu. Political or Ethical: Chen Duxiu's Motive for Writing "Towards a Literary Revolution" [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2019, 39(4): 194-203.
[7]	Xie Huiying. On the Genealogy of Heresy in Revolutionary Literature [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2019, 39(4): 204-218.
[8]	Wang Zhu . Particularities in Time and Space: on Historicism in Stephen Greenblatt's New Historicism [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2018, 38(3): 105-111.
[9]	Huang Jigang . The Formation of Body Modernity and Its Discourse Dimension: A Case Study of "Body Encounter" in Modern China [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2018, 38(3): 169-178.
[10]	Zhao Liming. Oriental Miscellany and Theatre Reform of Modern China [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(4): 169-176.
[11]	Cheng Guofu. The Literary Concepts through Novel Titles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(3): 66-77.
[12]	Luo Cheng. "Engaging in Literature for Life" in the Era of Post-revolution: the Theoretical Framework and Connotation of Zhu Ziqing's Literary Appreciation [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(2): 29-36.
[13]	Yao Wenfang. The Theoretical Evolution and Literary Orientation of "Symptomatic Reading" [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(2): 118-128.
[14]	Wang Wei. On Terry Eagleton's Revolutionary Criticism [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(2): 193-199.
[15]	Lai Daren. Historical Evolution and Reflection on the Concept "the Essence of Literature" [J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2017, 37(1): 18-26.