Also Known As the Dream of the Red Chamber - The Crab-Flower Club

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780140443264
• ISBN10: 0140443266
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1977-09-29
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

'The Story of the Stone' (c. 1760), also known as 'The Dream of the Red Chamber', is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin's magnificent saga, 'The Dreamer Awakes', was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life, Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision, which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream, 'as moonlight mirrored in the water'.

Table of Contents

Note on Spelling	13	(4)
Preface	17	(6)
Beauty Perspiring sports with butterflies by the Raindrop Pavilion; And Beauty Suspiring weeps for fallen blossoms by the Flowers' Grave	23	(18)
A crimson cummerbund becomes a pledge of friendship; And a chaplet of medicine-beads becomes a source of embarrassment	41	(27)
In which the greatly blessed pray for yet greater blessings; And the highly strung rise to new beights of passion	68	(25)
Bao-chai speaks of a fan and castigates her deriders; Charmante scratches a `qiang' and mystifies a beholder	93	(15)
A torn fan is the price of silver laughter; And a lost kylin is the clue to a happy marriage	108	(18)
Bao-yu demonstrates confusion of mind by making his declaration to the wrong person; And Golden shows an unconquerable spirit by ending her bumiliation in death	126	(15)
An envious younger brother puts in a malicious word or two; And a scapegrace elder brother receives a terrible chastisement	141	(14)
A wordless message meets with silent understanding; And a groundless imputation leads to undeserved rebukes	155	(18)
Sulky Silver tastes some lotus-leaf soup; And Golden Oriole knots a flower-patterned fringe	173	(21)
Bao-chai visits Green Delights and hears strange words from a sleeper; Bao-yu visits Pear-tree Court and learns hard facts from a performer	194	(19)
A happy inspiration prompts Tan-chun to found the Crab-flower Club; And an ingenious arrangement enables Bao-chai to settle the chrysanthemum poem titles	213	(27)
River Queen triumphs in her treatment of chrysanthemum themes; And Lady Allspice is satirical on the subject of crabs	240	(19)
An inventive old countrywoman tells a story of somewhat questionable veracity; And an impressionable young listener insists on getting to the bottom of the matter	259	(18)
Lady Jia holds two feasts in one day in the Prospect Garden; And Faithful makes four calls on three dominoes in the Painted Chamber	277	(27)
Jia Bao-yu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage; And Grannie Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green Delights	304	(19)
Lady Allspice wins over a suspicious nature with some well-intentioned advice; And River Queen enhances her reputation as a wit with some amusing sarcasms	323	(21)
An old woman's whim is the occasion of a birthday collection; And a young man's remorse finds solace in a simple ceremony	344	(20)
Xi-feng's jealousy is the object of an unexpected provocation; And Patience's toilet is a source of unexpected delight	364	(20)
Sisterly understanding finds expression in words of sisterly frankness; And autumnal pluviousness is celebrated in verses of autumnal melancholy	384	(22)
An awkward person is given an awkward mission; And a faithful maid vows faithfulness unto death	406	(22)
In pursuit of love the Oaf King takes a fearful beating; And from fear of reprisal the Reluctant Playboy makes a hasty getaway	428	(20)
The Love-Deluded One turns his thoughts to trade and travel; And the Poetry Enthusiast applies herself to making verses	448	(19)
Red flowers bloom brighter in dazzling snow; And venison reeks strangely on rosebud lips	467	(21)
Linked verses in Snowy Rushes Retreat; And lantern riddles in the Spring In Winter Room	488	(24)
A clever cousin composes some ingenious riddles; And an unskilful physician prescribes a barbarous remedy	512	(20)
Kind Patience conceals the theft of a Shrimp Whisker bracelet; And brave Skybright repairs the hole in a Peacock Gold snow-cape	532	(23)
Ning-guo House sacrifices to the ancestors on New Year's Eve; And Rong-guo House entertains the whole family on Fifteenth Night	555	(28)
Appendix I Regulated Verse	583	(3)
Appendix II Threesomes with the Dominoes	586	(2)
Appendix III Unsolved Riddles	588	(7)
Characters in Volume 2	595	(7)
Genealogical Tables	602