The characters in A Dream of Red Mansions are numerous, varied and complicated. Cao Xueqin devoted a lot of efforts to the shaping of these characters, and even spent a lot of thoughts on naming them, closely following the theme of the book, in harmony with the content, and also in harmony with the development of characters and plots. Cao Xueqin paid great attention to the personality of the characters when he was named. His handwriting is strange and elegant, some are bird names, some are flower names, and some are orbs and jade names, which are rich and elegant. Many people's names or words, or several people's names together, are of great significance. Some are hints to the fate of the characters, some are metaphors to the development of the plot, some are summaries of some characteristics of the characters, some are wonderful satires to the behavior of the characters, some are hints to the stories of the characters, and so on.
Cao Xueqin contacted and developed four family stories, from ancient times to modern times, first writing Zhen, Leng Zixing and so on. It shows that this book is "the truth is hidden and false words exist", so as to remind readers to pay attention.
At first, the stories of the four families went from far to near, from the outside to the inside, through Granny Liu in Leng Zixing and Zhen. No matter the Jia family in the south of the Yangtze River or the Zhen family, the stories told by these four people are "True (Zhen) and False (Jia) Difficult (Guang Yun): cold, difficult, and similar in sound, but interlinked. ) (cold) stay (Liu) "means the tragic end of the four families.
The protagonists in the book are Baoyu, Daiyu, Baochai and Miaoyu, and the complexity of their relationship is also reflected in their names. "Chai" and "Dai" are synonymous with aristocratic families in feudal society. Baoyu's name was split and given to two girls, forming "Baochai" and "Daiyu". This shows that the relationship between them is extraordinary, and the entanglement between them must be close and unpredictable, so that Baoyu fell in love with Daiyu, but married Baochai. Miaoyu is also connected with Baoyu because of the word "jade". They are congenial and have many similarities in character. They are a mirror of Baoyu.
For other important people, the author mainly uses homophonic names, which are rich and very clever, showing the author's painstaking thinking and ability to control words.
The truth is hidden, but the false words still exist.
Jia Baoyu: "Fake Baoyu" is a "real stubborn stone" with rebellious spirit.
Miaoyu: The jade in the "temple" shows her identity. She turned out to be a monk.
Four sisters: Yuan Chun, Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun: homophonic "original sigh", sighing their short youth. Spring is very short, and more importantly, it is divided into four stages, each of which is shorter. Some people think it is "cause analysis" to explore the reasons for the decline and demise of feudal society.
Wang Xifeng: Feng is a male god bird, which means that Xifeng is like a man, with outstanding talent and sharp edges. It is also homophonic "waste for phoenix". Although the talent is outstanding, it is inevitable that the fragrance will die. The straw mat was wrapped in the wilderness, and my daughter was almost sold.
Hua Xiren: The flowers are beautiful and fragrant, but they give you a gentle knife in the back. This also shows that Xiren is a "person" of Zi.
Qin Keqing: You can be affectionate and promiscuous. You can have sex with anyone close to you. But on closer inspection, things may not be that simple. It seems that there are other secrets in it.
Qingwen: Clouds on sunny days are just "colorful clouds are easy to disperse"; Some people say it is "love".
Jia Zheng: a hypocrite who is hypocritical, stupid, prude and full of benevolence and morality.
Jia She: It probably means that he is an ornament in the Jia family and is not loved by the Jia family.
Jia Rong: Rong "endures" and "endures" to the point where his wife commits adultery with his father and seduce brother-in-law.
Jia Rui, the word tianxiang: Rui, heaven wants to bless good omen, but the word "Jia (false)" is added in front of it, which means the opposite. Therefore, in the book, Jia Rui died first, and then all the fragrant flowers disappeared one by one, which shows that this is a false omen, so it is called Jia Rui. Cai Yuanpei thinks that Jia Rui is a "fake Wen Tianxiang", because Jia Rui happens to have an auspicious word, and Wen Tianxiang just has the word, so Cai Yuanpei thinks that this word is used to ridicule those Ming people who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, implying that they have no backbone.
Jia Hua, Zi Fei: Lies are not true.
Jia Lian: False honesty, false face, a shameless dissolute.
Jia Jing: Fake silence. He quietly moved to the suburbs. The author satirized his false happiness.
Jia Qiang: Jia Qiang is "stronger" than those Jia Gongzi who only know how to eat, drink and be merry; Bai Yutang is also a symbol of love. Jia Baoyu learned the true meaning of love from the love between Lingguan and Jia Qiang.
Xue Pan: The original meaning of "Pan" is "twists and turns". Xue Pan's words "Long Wen" and "Panlong" are the fiercest of the legendary eight dragons.
Jiao Xing: Lucky, because I looked back at Yucun and later became the first house of Yucun. How lucky. I am a master because I look back.
Leng Zixing: Emphasizing the word "cold" and arranging this person as a "cold-eyed person" in the book has an extraordinary effect. Not only did he "say Guo Rongfu" with his mouth, so that readers were psychologically prepared for the plot that unfolded behind him, but he could see the dilapidated state of the giants very early, showing that Leng Zixing's "cold eyes" were severe enough.
Maids in April are "playing the piano, playing chess, serving books and painting", which embodies the four major arts of "playing the piano, playing chess and painting" and also implies the characteristics, hobbies and artistic accomplishment of the owner.
Kings of Four Counties (Dongping Wang, Nan Wang, Xining Wang and Jing Wang): The metaphor of "peace in the southeast and northwest" is the author's false statement of deliberately whitewashing peace and praising the virtue of the present dynasty.
Qin Zhong: Love, having an affair with an able person killed his father and himself. What a loving species. Because of his personality and appearance, he loved Jia Baoyu very much and was cited as a confidant by Jia Baoyu.
Yuanyang: a moral name. Yuanyang birds were originally paired and were the mascots of love, but "Yuanyang Girl" could not have her own love and was forced to death by Jia She.
Jia Huan: "Jia Huan" means "bad". This man is really bad enough.
Zijuan: Purple is too red. There is an inherent saying that red is purple. Red is Cao Xueqin's favorite color. Rhododendron is not only a famous flower, but also an understanding "relative bird". Based on the above characteristics, it is called "Zi Juan", and Dai Yu are best friends.
Sun Shaozu: Sun Sao Zu, humiliate your ancestors. Jia Fu's influence made him proud, but in turn killed Yingchun.
Xia Jingui: Xia Jingui, the name reflects Cao Xueqin's contempt for this Hedong lion. She directly killed Xiangling.
Pinger: Bottles, ornaments.
Dai Quan: "Da" is also read. "Dai Quan" means "great power" and specializes in buying and selling officials.
Jiao Da: Arrogance. He saved his grandfather's life by himself, but he was arrogant in front of his new owner and got out of control.
Bo Shiren: Not human. His nephew Jia Yun borrowed money from him. Not only did he not borrow it, but he even smiled.
Zhen: I should be pitied. I came from an official family, but I was abducted and killed by Jingui since I was a child. My life is really rough and pathetic.
Hotch: The trouble started with Zhen's servant. She lost Xiao Xiangling and completely changed her life.
Su Feng: Crazy and vulgar. This man is Zhang Yue described by Zhen Yinshi. He is treacherous, stingy and greedy for power.
Feng Yuan: In order to win in a row, Xue Pan killed him alive, and his grievances are as deep as the sea.
Zhan Guang, Lai Sheng, Wu, Cheng Rixing and Shan Ren: A group of sour diners and stewards under Jia Fu's door are homophonic as Rong, Lai Sheng (official), No Star, Glory in the Sun and Good at deceiving others.
The four families written in the book are also homophonic. Jia, Wang, Shi and Xue are fake, dead, dead and snowy respectively (the snow doesn't last long). Even the place name "Geng Qingfeng" may be "Aigen Peak".
Shortly after the opening of A Dream of Red Mansions, Cao Xueqin fabricated a myth about a barren mountain and a barren cliff with a green ridge peak, which showed the Taoist priests the story of "other disciples" who had been brought into the world of mortals for many years. The story of "the age of dynasty, land and country" is "lost without examination" and "the times are undisturbed" In order to escape the literary inquisition, Mr. Wang deliberately used "fake village dialect (Jia Yucun)" to cover up the truth (truth).
Homophonic place names in A Dream of Red Mansions
Geng Qingfeng: Aigen Peak
Renqing Lane: Renqing Lane
Shili Street: Shili Street
Xiaoxiang Pavilion: Xiaoxiang Pavilion
Lixiangyuan: Resentment from my hometown.
Wu Heng Yuan: I hate it.
Yuan: the legacy of red resentment
Wind dew tea: angry tea
Let's take a look at the seven classic couplets in A Dream of Red Mansions, which are also full of warning functions:
When it's fake, it's true. It's true.
Only inaction.
-It's fantastic.
As the couplet says, if you take falsehood seriously, it really becomes falsehood; If you treat what you don't have as something, some will become nothing. Just as Lu Xun said in A Brief Introduction to Flowers in a Crimson Cave: "Just look at the meaning, it depends on the reader's eyes: scholars see the Book of Changes, Taoists see lewdness, talents see lingering, revolutionaries see fullness, gossips see the secret things in the palace ..." This couplet also interprets "false", "true" and "yes", which gives people profound enlightenment to understand and think about complex life.
I forgot to put my hand behind my back,
There is no turning back.
-the couplet of Zhitong Temple
This pair of couplets is characterized by its shallow language and profound meaning. The so-called shallow language means that the two sentences in the couplet are easy to understand and picturesque. It is written that because I have money to keep, I still don't give up until I hit the wall. Everyone can understand the meaning. The so-called profound meaning, Lianzhong refers to more than just a matter of truth. Its profound meaning lies in: First, the words "I forgot to shrink my hand" and "I want to turn back" in Lianzhong are far-reaching and intriguing. It is a summary of the painful lessons of those who know the world better than their experiences.
Everything is clear and knowledgeable,
Human understanding is an article.
-Ning Fu Shang Lian Fang
This couplet is neat, beautifully written, concise and meaningful. If we extract the method of self-cultivation from the specific plot of the novel A Dream of Red Mansions, and taste it alone, it will be promising to study the way of the world as a communicative knowledge. This pair of couplets can not but be said to be an image summary of people's condensed philosophy of life for thousands of years. This shows the genius of Cao Xueqin.
Gentle cold because the cold spring locks the dream,
People in fragrant air cages smell like wine.
-Qin bedroom painting couplets
When painting couplets, couplets must be closely related to painting. The first couplet means that it is slightly cold in spring, deep sleep in spring and locked sleep; The next step is that people are attracted by the aroma of wine. The organic combination of painting and couplet art here is a fine tradition of couplet art and painting art in China. The combination of couplets and paintings is often wonderful. In addition, it also shows how subtitle painting complements painting and interior furnishings. This pair of couplets is not only neat and even, but more importantly, it is used in Qin's bedroom to point out the bedroom scene, create an indispensable artistic emotion and atmosphere, and highlight and render the specific characters and environment described.
Bypass the levee and borrow three reeds.
The flowers on the other side are very fragrant.
-Qin Fang Pavilion Alliance
The first part of the couplet reads, the waves are clear and clear, like borrowing the green of willow trees on the shore; The next link is the fragrance of water, like the water in this vein, sharing the flowers on the other side. This pair of couplets is written about "water", and the beauty is that there is no word "water", and all of them use "around the embankment" and "on the other side" to reflect the stream; The "three poles" and "one pulse" are used to contrast the "water depth" and "manifold", and the water color, water quality and surrounding atmosphere are integrated into one, forming a poetic picture of Liu Ying, with bloom blooming and flowing water red. No wonder many scholars who appreciate the scenery are full of praise. When reading here, readers can also enjoy the poems and paintings in the Qin Fang Pavilion.
On the seat, beads illuminate the sun and the moon.
There is a mist in front of the hall.
-Rong Xi Tang Lian
This is a pair of couplets in the main hall, usually called Tang couplets. Tang couplets have a variety of decorative functions, so they are also called "decorative couplets", which are mostly used to decorate and beautify indoor environments such as living rooms, study rooms, bedrooms and desks. Formally, church couplets play the role of decorating houses and beautifying the environment; In content, it reflects the different styles, qualities, feelings and hobbies of the host. The first part of this pair of couplets in the main hall of Rongtang is called Zhuyu in the seat, which can shine with the sun and the moon; The color of the official uniforms worn by the people in the lower joint hall is like a cloud, which shows that the luxury of the Jia family has indeed reached its peak. This pair of couplets is the most vivid description of this "Zhong Ming Shi Ding" homeland, which is closely related to Fu Rong's brilliant social status in A Dream of Red Mansions. All-China Federation, with neat antithesis, elegant conception and beautiful writing, vividly depicts the interests and world outlook pursued by dignitaries, and is a masterpiece of the theme of Dream of Red Mansions.
Baoding tea is still green,
It's still cold to play chess in a secluded window.
-Xiaoxiang Pavilion Association
On the couplet, Baoding stops in brew tea, and there is still green steam floating indoors; The bottom line says that Jingchuang has stopped playing chess, and his fingers still feel cold. This green steam is obviously caused by the shade of bamboo; This coolness is also due to the coolness. It can be said that both visual image and tactile perception are. The "tea break" and "chess break" in couplets are well used. Reciting this couplet, from the scenery and feelings, from things and people, seems to catch your eye is the leisure of dudes and ladies living in aristocratic families.
Finally, let's take a look at the warning that the Qin Keqing family was killed:
One of the twelve women in Jinling, whose real name is Ke Qing, is the daughter adopted by Jia Rong, the great-grandson of Ningguo House, who was originally married to Qin Bangye of Shu Lang, a health center. Jia Fu is called Grandma Rong.
If someone suddenly asks such a question: Who suffered the worst in A Dream of Red Mansions? You may not be able to answer for a while! Because A Dream of Red Mansions is a great tragedy, both Ning and Rong families came to a bad end. Unfortunately, every family has its own problems, but the Qin family is the most unfortunate. Qin Bangye, who is nearly seventy years old, has a daughter as beautiful as flowers and a shy and elegant son. Such a warm and happy family, but in just a year or so, suffered a disaster. Its mysterious and innocent disaster has left endless confusion and sighs for the world!
Qin Bangye, a doctor, took the daughter of Yangshengtang. When she grew up, she was elegant and romantic. The factor has something to do with the Jia family, so I got married. She is the daughter-in-law of Qin Keqing, the wife of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong, the Lord of Ningguo Mansion. In the intrigue and undercurrent of Jia Fu, Qin Keqing, the richest man in Ningguo Fu, seems to be an exceptional lucky one. She is popular because of her beauty and kindness. Up and down the Ningguo mansion, people are close to each other, and everyone loves them. Just as Ke Qing was in the spring breeze, her brother Qin Zhong came to her sister's house to play. Qin Zhong was twelve years old. He is a shy and gentle young man. He went back to the south to review his lessons at home last year and met Jia Baoyu at Ke Qing's place. As soon as they hit it off, Baoyu warmly invited Qin Zhong to study with Jia She. Qin Bangye was overjoyed when he learned about it, because it was a lifelong event related to his son's future. Although he is shy, he patched things together. At this time, the Qin family has the potential of good luck, and everything seems so beautiful and happy, so content!
Accidents will happen. This idiom is most suitable for people who live in Jia's family. When my younger brother Qin Zhong entered school, it was the day when my younger sister Ke Qing was ill in bed. Qin Keqing, a sunny young housewife, suddenly became lazy by hiding in the house. She is lazy, too, saying that God is crazy. I have been looking for a famous doctor for treatment and my condition has not improved. On the contrary, the situation is getting worse, because Qin Keqing has an incurable heart disease. Jiao was as drunk as a fiddler, and in front of Ke Qing, You Shi, Jia Rong and others, he cursed the beast of Ningguo House for climbing the ashes to raise his uncle's brother-in-law. The scandal of Jia Zhen's incest with Ke Qing has been publicly leaked. "No matter what news you hear, you have to think about it for three days and five nights." Qin Keqing is a cautious person and naturally feels ashamed and worried. At this time, my brother Qin Zhong came over and told her some filthy and lewd words in school. My sister, confused by the feeling of lewdness, heard that her brother was exposed to lewd evil again, and she knew what was at stake. She was angry and annoyed, which virtually aggravated her desperate worries. Alas, the ignorant Qin Zhong is still entertaining himself. At this point, death is secretly grinning and waving to the two brothers and sisters!
Qin Bangye happily sent his son to Jiafu School. He hopes that his son can improve his studies and become famous from now on. I never thought that Jia's family could not hold a quiet desk, and it was at stake. It turns out that this school is full of its own playboys, mixed with dragons and snakes, and all kinds of nasty people are among them, which has long made a mess of the school. Jia's home is filled with a strong lewd atmosphere. The sons and grandfathers in these schools are exposed all the year round. Although they are young, they have already given off the stench of lewdness! He who is near ink is black, and he who is near Zhu Zhechi. In the dirty vat of Jiafu, the shy and elegant little handsome boy was soon dyed into a cheating little prostitute!
Under great psychological pressure, Qin Keqing finally collapsed. With the suspicion of all his family, Qin Keqing finally ended his young life. My sister over there lost her life in heaven, but my brother here ran all the way for her immorality! Qin Keqing's coffin has just been placed in the Iron Hill Temple. As a younger brother, Qin Zhong didn't have Dai Xiao's wake. Instead, I went to Shantou Temple, not far from Tiexier Temple, to play with the information of the little nun. When no one was there that night, Qin Zhong found the information and forced sexual relations regardless of the struggle of the information. Is this still the naive child not long ago? Sister's bones are not cold, and the passion of filial piety is in her body. She dared to forcibly rape Buddhist children in Buddhist holy places, which not only trampled on the norms of etiquette and law, but also far exceeded the bottom line of human ethics. Isn't this another little Jia Zhen who is still having fun at home during the period of national filial piety? Even if we can forgive Qin Zhong's youth and ignorance, can we forgive Ning for killing people in an invisible den? Qin Zhong will eventually pay for his debauchery. His affair with the intelligence department was discovered by his father. Qin Bangye hit Qin Zhong, and he was ill. On March 3rd, he passed away. Qin Zhong was whipped despite his illness. Today, he saw his father so angry that he regretted his pain and his condition deteriorated sharply. At this time, no one came to visit the huge Jia family except Baoyu, and someone helped him see a doctor. Qin Zhong became a forgotten outcast, and people watched Qin Zhong finish his young life day by day. Jia Fu is so heartless and so secular. Qin Keqing's family of three were killed, but this just started the tragic curtain of Wan Yanhong Building, and Qin Keqing's mourning for Xiangyuan was only the first cry of Qian Gong. Although, this sound is so sad and weird!
What does the author want to imply to us through the story that the Qin Keqing family killed three people? Can we understand the smell? Master Qin Bangye has a pair of good children, who are close to each other and loved by everyone. This is an enviable happy family. Unexpectedly, the delicate and charming Qin Keqing was cruelly trampled to death by her father-in-law Jia Zhen's evil paws. Qin Zhong, a piece of white and flawless jade, became a rotten stone in Jia's dirty jar. In a year or so, a beautiful and happy family disappeared without saying anything. What makes people feel sad and confused is that no one has taken the slightest responsibility for the collapse of the Qin family, and no one has expressed a little apology for it. What is even more frightening is that the fall of Qin did not arouse anyone's thinking and vigilance. The author seems to be quietly telling the world that the greatest sorrow of mankind is that the insensitive and indifferent response is none of our business! Subsequently, You Laoniang happily led the second sister and the third sister, followed the old road that Ke Qing walked, and hurried to Ningguo House. Even after You Sanjie trampled the peach blossoms all over the floor, Second Sister You happily jumped into the trap that Xi Feng dug for her. The human tragedy is so wonderful that it continues to be staged! It is through the sad story of the Qin family's murder that Cao Xueqin debunked the secret that the world turned a blind eye to. Unfortunately, how many people can understand and think clearly!
The first half of Qin Keqing's verdict is: "Painting Liang Chun with fragrant dust, grasping the moonlight and being good at amorous feelings are the root causes of failure." This may be another key to open Qin's gate. A Dream of Red Mansions has always been praised by people for its gray lines and deep veins, and even the names of people imply puns. Qin Keqing's affection can be light, Qin Zhong's affection can be light, and Qin Bangye's affection can be light. Love can be light, and my father-in-law can easily win true feelings and true love. His feelings are as light as a feather, and he embarked on the road of suicide. Is this a light word? Qin Zhong, at an early age, planted a dissolute affection early, and soon forged the evil consequences of emotional injury. Should he blame others or repent and hate himself? Whether Qin Bangye married Jia Fu out of greed or out of the helplessness of authority, it is really difficult for us to figure out this mess. However, one thing we can be sure of is that he knows who Jia Zhen is, and only two stone lions in front of Ningguo House are clean and shady. Leng Zixing, an outsider, knows Ning Guofu, what's more, Qin Bangye is related to Jia Fu! It was he who personally sent his children as beautiful as flowers and pure as jade to the brothel and ruined their future. This heavy emotional debt, father must bear, scold Qin Bangye is a crime, he is not wronged! The author closely followed a love story and wrote down all the right and wrong of Ke Qingjia. The ancients said: "The filial piety of all virtues comes first, and all evils come first." Although this statement is exaggerated, it is still true. The looming talons of Jia Zhen and others, the silent and invisible dens of Rong Ning and Fu Rong have swallowed up many beautiful faces and destroyed many golden phoenix and jewels!
A person, a family, a country, once set foot on the road of debauchery and corruption without looking back, it is doomed to failure and extinction! Tears read the red chamber, cold-eyed view of ancient and modern times, how many powerful elites did Xiaosan stumble over? Always because of love!