The character was born in 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. 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. Kangxi went to Jiangnan six times, and Cao Yin took over the driving four times. But Cao Xueqin was born a few years late, and I didn't experience the grand occasion of Kangxi's southern tour. A dream of red mansions 16 episode can be used as evidence. According to the original book, Xifeng, who is older than Jia Baoyu, can only understand that period of history by listening to the dictation of Zhao DOG and other elders.
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 remembered this happy life vividly all his life, and affectionately called it "dream" in the first part of A Dream of Red Mansions.
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.
Cao Xueqin was in Yongzheng for five years (1727), and Cao Xueqin was thirteen years old (nominal age). /kloc-In February, Cao Fu, the uncle of Foreign Minister of Jiangning Weaving, was dismissed from his post and sent to prison for the crimes of harassing the post station, weaving deficit and transferring property. Before the Lantern Festival in the first month of the following year, the property was robbed (male and female servants of family size 165438+). 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. Cao Xueqin's specific work in religious studies includes teaching assistant, teacher, husband, servant and running errands. Cao Xueqin's circle of friends in Beijing is all Wang Sun, such as Duncheng, Dunmin, Fu Peng and others. In the contact with them, Cao Xueqin was able to appreciate the culture of Wang Fu.
Qianlong nine years (1744), Cao Xueqin is thirty years old. Duncheng (1734- 179 1) was eleven years old, and Dunmin (1729- 1796) was sixteen years old, and entered the religion. The two brothers greatly admire Cao Xueqin's talent and demeanor, and appreciate his open-minded personality and broad mind. In the long winter night, they sat together and listened to Cao Xueqin's witty and energetic On Heroes, and were often attracted and moved by Cao Xueqin's strange talk and eloquence. The sincere poem "In memory of Cao Xueqin (Zhan)" said: "It was a few morning and evening in Humen, and the west window was cut by candles." Record and deeply remember this unforgettable day.
Cao Xueqin wrote the first draft of A Dream of Red Mansions during this period.
Yan Shi Kuang ge
In the twelfth year of Qianlong (1747), Cao Xueqin was thirty-three years old and moved to the western suburbs of Beijing around 1000. In the following years, I lived in Penalty Street in Xidan, Beijing, the Sleeping Buddha Temple outside Chongwenmen, Siwangmi and Dongyu Village in Zhengbaiqi, Xiangshan, and Baijiatuan (about 50 miles outside Xizhimen) on the north slope of Huang Qi. During this period, Cao Xueqin lived in a thatched cottage, enjoying wild flowers, living in seclusion, looking for poems, waving flowers, singing harmoniously, selling paintings, getting drunk, singing wildly, reminiscing about the past, writing books and enjoying the popular culture of Beijing. On the one hand, I make a living by selling calligraphy and painting and the relief of friends and relatives such as Fu Peng, Duncheng, Dunmin and Zhang Yiquan. Duncheng's poem "To Cao Qinpu" reads: "Full path. Cao Xueqin hated being down and out all his life and accomplished nothing. " In that poor situation, I felt very dissatisfied and depressed, so I couldn't help drinking and singing to myself. "His true nature comes from the two contributions of justice and evil, and it is becoming more and more obvious.
Yellow leaves for writing books
Cao Xueqin's ambition of "mending the sky" has never slackened. Until his later years, his friend Duncheng's "In Memory of Cao Xueqin (Zhan)" still comforted him: "Don't beat the cymbals of diners, don't knock on the doors of the rich. It is better to write a book about Huangye Village than to write a book about Huangye Village. "It means that Cao Xueqin's personal struggle has encountered difficulties and obstacles because of his status as a guilty minister. He sincerely advised him to retire and concentrate on writing. Cao Xueqin also lived up to expectations. During his ten years in seclusion in Xishan Mountain, Cao Xueqin wrote his old work "A Treasure Mirror of Yue Feng" into a masterpiece "A Dream of Red Mansions" with perseverance.
Revisit your hometown.
In the twenty-fourth year of Qianlong (1759), Cao Xueqin was forty-five years old and arrived in Jiangning in the south about that year. The reason for traveling south is unknown. It may be to visit the lost people, or it may be for other family matters (it is said that Cao Xueqin was the staff of Yin Jishan, the governor of Liangjiang at that time). During my southern tour, I experienced the mountains and rivers, looked at the old traces and listened to the past. Zhang Yiquan's poem Huai Xi is considered to be a work of this period.
In the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong (1760), Cao Xueqin was forty-six. In the early autumn, Dunmin wrote a poem "Sitting Behind Closed Doors", saying, "Long friendship is a dream." It may refer to Cao Xueqin's trip to the south and his failure to return after many years. After traveling to the south for more than a year, I returned to Beijing around the Double Ninth Festival. Shortly after the festival, Dunmin ran into Cao Xueqin in Xuan Shi written by his friend Lin Mingjia, and wrote a poem "Feeling and Growing Up" to remember him.
Die of poverty and disease
After Cao Xueqin went south to Beijing, he continued to write A Dream of Red Mansions. In the twenty-seventh year of Qianlong (Renwu 1762), Cao Xueqin was forty-eight years old. Due to the early death of his young son, he was bedridden with grief. He died in Beijing on New Year's Eve. Duncheng wrote "Holding Cao Xueqin", Dunmin wrote "Drinking by the River and Hanging Xueqin on the Wall", and Zhang Yiquan wrote "Hurting a Buddhist in Qinxi".
In the forty-fourth year of Qianlong (1779), Cao Xueqin died of illness in the seventeenth year. Duncheng wrote "Letter to Big Brother (Dunmin)" in memory of Cao Xueqin.
Iron and blood allusions, noble medical ethics
According to Mr. Kong Xiangze's memory, when he visited Baijiatuan with Mr. Wu Enyu in the early 1970s, he heard a villager say that a doctor in Qian Shan Banner often came to see the poor for free, and every time he came, he borrowed tables and chairs from an empty temple in Shannan. Later, the doctor moved to Qiaoxi, and it was much more convenient for ordinary people to see a doctor. Mr. Shu Chengxun once told Kong Lao that there are many pharmacies in indigo plant, and Cao Xueqin often goes to these pharmacies to get medicines or prescribe medicines for patients. Shu Lao remembered the names of these pharmacies one by one and told Kong Lao. Unfortunately, Kong Lao didn't write them down at that time.
Kong Lao also said: Xueqin has cured many people's diseases because of her superb medical skills. Some rich people often buy something for Xue Qin after their illness is cured, in return for her kindness in treating the disease. Qin Xue often tells these people, don't buy me anything, just keep your money. Once the patient can't afford to buy medicine, I'll let him find you and you will give him his medicine. Isn't this able to help more people relieve their pain? In this way, Xueqin cured many stubborn diseases for many poor people, and people praised Xueqin's brilliant medical skills and noble medical ethics.
It doesn't seem difficult for a person to do something good. It is rare to do good deeds forever. Qin Xue treated Xishan people for free, and even collected herbs for the poor people. Qin Xue's care for Xishan people is the best proof, and the public's word of mouth is the best proof.
Yubaituan
Dunmin, a good friend of Xueqin, accurately recorded in the Record of Life in a Bottle Lake Zhai that in the spring of the 23rd year of Qianlong (i.e. 1758), Xueqin moved to Baijiatuan. The original note is as evidence: "In the spring, Qinpu (the number of Xueqin) has been given up and will move to Baijiatuan." After this article, Dunmin went to Baijiatuan twice to ask Xueqin to identify calligraphy and painting. Unfortunately, Xueqin is not at home. In the postscript, Dunmin tells the general story of Xueqin's new house in Baijiatuan. For readers' reference, the quotations are as follows: "There is a stream blocking the road, looking across the bank, there are four adobe houses, which are inclined to the southwest, with stones as walls and rafters as broken branches, and the walls are uneven and the households are incomplete. The courtyard is neat, the hedges are woven into brocade, and vines are planted on the vines ... There is the joy of squatting in the alley and the ecstasy of being fascinated by flowers. You can go north along the stream and cross the stone bridge. " There are few biographical materials left by Qin Xue. Dunmin's Record of Living in a Bottle Lake describes the time when Cao Xueqin moved to Baijiatuan and some words and deeds of Qin Xue, which is extremely important. So why did Xueqin migrate to Baijiatuan? Since the fifteenth year of Qianlong, Xueqin bid farewell to religious studies and moved to the western suburbs. After several migrations, she finally moved from Xiangshan to Baijiatuan. Some people have analyzed that there are economic reasons, such as avoiding "public opinion" and the collapse of houses, "Manchu territory" (during the Qianlong period, it was stipulated that the slaves of the Banners could open accounts, that is, the Han people were allowed to flag), and there were also claims that Qin Xue built houses and Baijiatuan were related to the Prince of Yi. In my opinion, apart from economic reasons, Qin Xue wants to find an ideal place to write and repair books to avoid noise.
Empty road flyover
There is a very important figure in A Dream of Red Mansions-an empty Taoist priest. In all kinds of legends about Cao Xueqin, there are not many people involved in this person. But what is the connection between the writing style of this mysterious Taoist in The Red Chamber?
A textual research note on Ten Kinds of Cao Xueqin written by Mr. Wu Enyu once said: "Wei Jun's eight-character seal script" Yunshan Hanmo Ice and Snow Clever "is said to be written by Qin Xue. It is not possible to follow the seal script. There is a small seal in the inscription of "Song Yue Fang Shan" in "Empty Road Man", and the carving skill is acceptable ... Mr. Zhicheng Deng said that this is indeed a Zhang Qian paper, but the inkpad is not like a thing when it is dry, and it is a little yellow when it is covered with dry paper inkpad. Yu Wei said that if it can be judged that it is dry paper, inkpad is not a problem. The cover is not only light ink, but also deep ink The word' empty Taoist priest' is still good. These twelve words were written by Qin Xue, although they are not necessary. However, in February 1963, Mr. Zhang Boju was interviewed, saying that the word "Empty Taoist Master" was compared with the word "Hai Keqin respects the earth" written by Qin Xue the year before last. Although Mr. Wu was identified as an original by two people, the evidence was a little pale because of the color of the inkpad.
Mr. Yang Yi has lived in Taizhouwu near Baijiatuan for a long time, and once wrote the article Nalan Xingde, a famous poet in Qing Dynasty. He talked about a very important issue, that is, there is an empty temple in Baijiatuan, which provides direct evidence for Qin Xue's "empty Taoist temple". The quotation for readers is as follows: "At the south foot of Cao Xueqin's Baijiatuan residence, there is a small temple at the foot of the mountain. There is a temple with an area of about 10 square meter. Because there are no gods, idols and memorial tablets in the temple, it is empty, and the locals call it an' empty temple'. This temple was demolished in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the land was razed. ..... Although there is no written record, it belongs to the mountain temple in terms of shape and location. The age of the building cannot be verified. Now some people think that this' empty temple' may be related to the' empty Taoist' written at the beginning of Cao Xueqin's Dream of Red Mansions. "
Mr. Yang Yi only speculated that the empty temple was related to the "empty Taoist" in A Dream of Red Mansions. However, it was not revealed that the "empty Taoist" was Cao Xueqin. Maybe Mr. Yang Yi didn't see the book Ten Kinds of Cao Xueqin written by Mr. Wu Enyu, or maybe he didn't see the seal script "The calligraphy in Yunshan is as skillful as ice and snow". Although Mr. Wu Enyu invited a famous appraiser at that time to identify it as Cao Xueqin's personal book, he never understood the relationship between the name "Empty Taoist" and Qin Xue. Baijiatuan's Empty Temple undoubtedly provides extremely important evidence for the study of A Dream of Red Mansions and Cao Xueqin.
Yuguangquan temple
Guangquan Temple in Xiangshan is the only place where Cao Xueqin and his good friend Zhang Yiquan were recorded exactly. They left poems to sing together. Unfortunately, Mr. Qin Xue's poems have not been handed down, and only Mr. Yiquan is recorded in the original rhyme of The Poems of Qin Xue. The quotation is as follows: "Your poem has never been sung leisurely, but now it is full of fun." The monument secretly knows that it contains today's rain, and the wall is expensive to make up the clouds. Cicadas call each other in the distance, and flies sing empty kitchens to find themselves near. A lonely man in the western suburbs went to Korea. He dragged a stick through the smoke forest. "(original rhyme of Cao Xueqin's" Abandoned Temple in the Western Suburb ")
Human experience
Located at No.31and No.33 Courtyard of Shihu Hutong on the east side of Xidan, Xicheng (Courtyard No.7 and No.8 before 1960s, now the National World Shopping Mall), the two courtyards are connected, which is a well-preserved mansion of Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing. This used to be the royal residence. This building is a large multi-quadrangle. Among many quadrangles in Beijing, this quadrangle can be said to be one of the quadrangles with the most celebrities. This hospital was called "Changzhou Guild Hall" in the Ming Dynasty, which was the place where Jiangnan adopted sons went to Beijing to study. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Qing government moved the guild hall to be the residence of Wu, the son of Wu Sangui. Because the youngest daughter princess of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Taiji, married Wu, it has always been called "Fu Ma Fu", also known as "Princess Kechun Fu". Historical geographers in Beijing are still used to calling it "Fu Ma Fu" for the convenience of writing or discussion. During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, in order to educate the children of the Eight Banners, the "right wing religion" of the Qing Dynasty was established here (the left wing religion of the Qing Dynasty was in dengshikou, Dongcheng). Cao Xueqin once taught here. Because Cao Gong's good friend Duncheng wrote the poem "There were several mornings and evenings in Humen at that time", so Redology also called it "Humen".
When did Cao Xueqin teach in the right-wing religious school? Redology scholars are still inconclusive. However, some redologists think it is around 1744 (nine years of Qianlong). What is his specific work in religion? Redology scholars have different opinions. Some say they are teaching assistants, some say they are teachers, some say they are husbands, some say they are husbands, some say they are husbands (is this husband a homonym for husbands), some say they are clerks, husbands, policemen and so on. In a word, he teaches in the Pope. Cao Xueqin teaches right-wing religion. What's his education? Some redologists think he is a dutiful son (that is, a juren), but most think he is a "tribute student" and a "tribute person". In the educational system of the Qing Dynasty, there were six kinds of tributes, namely, kindness, education, age, excellence, vice and example. Cao Gong's "painting tribute" is the painting tribute of Shuntianfu. He passed the imperial examination, so he was able to teach in religious studies. Dunmin and Duncheng brothers are students of right-wing religion, and they entered school in about 1744 (the ninth year of Qianlong).
Redology scholars are not very clear about when Cao Gong left Zongxue. According to the fact that the right-wing religious education moved away in the 19th year of Qianlong, it is estimated that they may have left the Xishan where they studied in the 16th or 7th year of Qianlong. Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, the old house at No.39 Zhengbaiqi Village, is actually the former residence of Cao Gong. 1April, 974, poems with inscriptions were found on the wall, some of which were marked with the year of "Bingyin", that is, the eleventh year of Qianlong, which proved that Cao Gong arrived in Xishan in the eleventh year of Qianlong. A redologist said that Cao Xueqin lived in Xishan with the help of his good friend and cousin Fu Peng, who was then the commander-in-chief of Zhengbaiqi. Fu Pengying died young, 4 1 year in the 13th year of Qianlong. So it is possible that Tsao Gong was already in Xishan when he was in Qianlong for eleven years. In the third exhibition room of Cao Xueqin Memorial Hall, it is clearly written: "Ten years after Qianlong, forced by life, he left the western hills of the capital to build a house, lived a life of' a thatched rafter and a crock rope bed', and made his world-famous works with blood and tears." In other words, Cao Gong left the right-wing religious school of Qing Dynasty in the 11th year of Qianlong. In short, Cao Xueqin's teaching time in Qing right-wing religion will not be too long. Because there are many articles in the Dream of Red Mansions that Tsao Gong's thoughts and feelings are clear-cut, cynical and even "arrogant", which is certainly unacceptable to the rulers.