Cao Xueqin experienced a luxurious and romantic life in Nanjing Jiangning Weaving Institute in his early years. In the sixth year of Yongzheng (1728), the Cao family was robbed of their property because of a deficit, and Cao Xueqin moved back to his former residence in Beijing with his family. Later, he moved to the western suburbs of Beijing and made a living by selling calligraphy and painting and helping his friends. Cao Xueqin has an open mind and a wide range of hobbies. He has studied epigraphy, poetry, painting, gardening, Chinese medicine, darning, craft and diet. With perseverance and years of hardships, he finally created a great work with great ideological and artistic quality-A Dream of Red Mansions.
Born into a wealthy family.
In the fifty-fourth year of Kangxi (17 15), Cao Yong, who was then a weaver in Jiangning, died while on duty in Beijing. Emperor Kangxi approved Cao Qing's cousin Cao Fu to go to Cao Yin to take over Jiangning weaving. On the seventh day of March of that year, Cao Fu made a wish: "Ma Shi, the slave's sister-in-law, was pregnant for seven months." Cao Xueqin was born in Nanjing Jiangning Weaving Institute on April 26th, 2005 (Gregorian calendar1765438+May 28th).
A few days after Cao Xueqin's full moon, on the third day of June, Cao Fu made a wish: "It rained for days and the fields were full." This is an opportunity for Cao Xueqin to become famous, which is shared by the right people at the right time. The word "Zhan" is taken from the Book of Songs Xiaoya New Nanshan, which means "I am excellent and thick, and my life is full", which means "the world is grateful to the son of heaven". The word "Xueqin" comes from the third of Su Shi's eight poems: "The clay piano is rooted for a long time and is alone in one inch; When the Xueqin moves, the spring pigeon will be fine. "
Cao Xueqin's great-grandmother Sun Shi was the nanny of Emperor Kangxi, and his grandfather Cao Yin was the squad leader and bodyguard of Emperor Kangxi. Later, he served as Jiangning Weaving and concurrently served as the governor of salt affairs in Huaibei and Huaibei. Kangxi went to Jiangnan six times, and Cao Yin took over the driving four times. During the Kang Yong period, Cao Jiazu Sun San was in charge of Jiangning weaving for 58 years on behalf of four people. His family background was prominent, he was powerful and extremely rich, and he became the first rich family in Nanjing at that time, making him a famous family in the world.
Qinhuai remnant dream
In his early years, Cao Xueqin relied on Tianen Zude (worshipping Emperor Kangxi and Cao Cao) to enjoy a luxurious and romantic life in prosperous times in Changming (prosperous times in Kang Yong), prosperous places in Liu Hua (Nanjing), poetic families (Weaving House in Jiangning) and warm and rich towns (West Garden). He clearly remembered this happy life all his life and affectionately called it a "dream".
Cao Xueqin was very naughty in his childhood, and hated stereotyped writing. He didn't like reading the Four Books and Five Classics, and hated the imperial examination and career economy. Although Cao Fu strictly abided by discipline, invited a tutor and went to home school for a few days, she always protected Xiaocao Xueqin because of her grandmother Li's doting. Fortunately, the Cao family has profound knowledge, and his grandfather Cao Yin has a collection of poems. In Yangzhou, he was responsible for the engraving of all Tang poems and more than 20 hardcover books, and was also in charge of Yangzhou Poetry Bureau. Cao Jia has a large collection of books, including 3287 kinds of fine books. Cao Xueqin lived in such a rich literary and artistic environment since childhood. He was educated by his father and brother, disciplined by teachers and friends, and read a lot of books. He especially loves reading poetry, drama, novels and other literary books, such as opera, diet, health care, medicine, tea ceremony, knitting and other encyclopedic cultural knowledge and skills.
Suzhou Weaving and Hangzhou Weaving Sun Wen and Chengdu are related to Cao's family, and they also served as the salt administration of Huaibei (Yangzhou is where he lived, and Cao Xueqin's grandfather also held this position before his death). When Cao Xueqin was a child, he visited relatives and friends and traveled to Suzhou, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Changzhou and other places many times. He was very fond of the mountains in the south of the Yangtze River. The poems of his good friends Duncheng and Dunmin are called "The Remnant Dream of Qinhuai" and "The Old Dream of Yangzhou".
This family has suffered a lot.
Yongzheng six years (1728), Cao Xueqin fourteen years old (nominal age). At the beginning of the year, Cao Fu, the uncle (father) of Jiangning Weaving Foreign Minister at that time, was dismissed for the crimes of harassing the post station, weaving deficit and transferring property. (Family size includes 1 14 servants). Cao Xueqin moved back to Beijing with his family. Since then, the Cao family has been devastated and declining. When I first returned to Beijing, there were 17 semi-old houses and three pairs of servants in the garlic market outside Chongwenmen, making ends meet. However, in order to repay the money owed by the case of harassing the post station and supplement the family, it is necessary to temporarily sell thousands of dollars of land mu. Some domestic slaves took advantage of this and borrowed a part of Dongzhuang tax under the pretext. Later, the deficit became more and more serious, and it was inevitable to sell the house. Thieves broke into houses, so that they had no money for several days and were forced to take out their house documents as collateral. Finally, it became the death of the portal and the population was scattered. After a few years, it is even worse than rubble. Cao Xueqin became more and more speechless because of the bad family. "Although I dare not say that I have experienced hardships, I have learned more about the world."
Make friends with celebrities
At the end of Yongzheng, Cao Xueqin became older and older and began to shoulder the burden of family. Gradually, he was able to help Cao Fu with the housework. Because Cao Fu was an official at home, he was too lazy to socialize. Cao Xueqin came out to receive him and met some political and business celebrities and literary predecessors. Under their influence, he set up a lofty ambition to write a book, gradually eliminated his infatuation when he was young, and worked hard for family rejuvenation. At one time, he studied hard, looked for friends from teachers, and paid tribute to the dignitaries in the DPRK in various ways.
Humen Chenxi
In the first year of Qianlong (1736), Cao Xueqin was twenty-two years old and was ordered to forgive the Cao family's deficit.
In the early years of Qianlong, Cao Xueqin worked as an errand in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and then entered the right-wing religious school (formerly known as Humen) in Shihu Hutong, Xidan as a humble small post.