"Dream of Red Mansions" is reminiscing, recalling the aristocratic family of the prosperous Qing Dynasty, the years of wealth and prosperity. The novel is filled with the author's obsession with and reminiscence of the past by the author Cao Xueqin (c. 1716-1763), as well as sighs about the prosperity and decline of the family and the decline of the family.
"Things" are ubiquitous in The Dream of Red Mansions, and the author uses many figurative objects, such as purses, ornaments, Buddha's hands, etc., to outline the contours and temperaments of the characters, and even as symbols and objects that connect the storyline.
The Paper learned that on May 17, "The Visible Dream of Red Mansions" was exhibited in the North Courtyard of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, with the theme of "Dream of Red Mansions", based on the collections of the National Palace Museum, Taipei Library and National Taiwan University Library.
According to the National Palace Museum in Taipei, the exhibition unfolds on three axes. 1. "Elegant and considerable": The charm of "Dream of Red Mansions" lies in the exquisite material culture of the aristocratic class, and in the wealth and glory shown by the author's life experience of being born in a weaving family in Jiangning; 2. "Foreign Objects and Strange Goods": Selecting imported goods from foreign countries in the book, prompting the author to set off the fashion of Jiafu, and reminding the trend of imitation set off by the popular "foreign goods" in the court of the era in which the author lived; 3. "A dream": The characters in the manual are based on the depictions of the use and related items, creating different personalities and metaphors, and shaping the short but brilliant life posture of women, which is pitiful and reluctant.
"Visible Dream of Red Mansions" poster
"Dream of Red Mansions" is inseparable from "love", family affection, love, friendship, and the love of master and servant. The interaction between love and "people" is closely intertwined. Through the embellishment of "things", people appear three-dimensional and warm. "Things" give the novel a picture and become a visible "Dream of Red Mansions".
Elegant and considerable
"Dream of Red Mansions" started with a stone, a stone left over from Nuwa's mending the sky, and Jia Baoyu who entered the world in a phantom form, was born in Jiafu, and became a jade. "Jade, the beauty of stone." It is closely related to the status of the nobility and the morality of a gentleman. Cao Xueqin, who was born in the Cao family who weaved for Jiangning for three generations, through "the abandonment of the Tiantian Stone", metaphorically implies that he and the male protagonist are "hopeless in the country and at home" in the face of the decline of the century-old aristocracy. Therefore, he mixes the prosperous past with imagination and fiction, and skillfully mixes it into the novel. On the one hand, it shows the aesthetic spirit and taste of the aristocracy, and on the other hand, it is to achieve the last self-comfort of life.
The family of poetry and hairpins - Cao family and Jiangning weaving
I respectfully invite St. Ann and please go to Beijing to see Jiangning Weaving Langzhong Cao Yin
Qing Dynasty Kangxi forty-three years (1704) July 29
Length 20.5 cm, width 48.2 cm
The family of poetry and hairpins refers to the nobles who pursue etiquette and religion and read poetry and etiquette for generations, and Cao Xueqin grew up in such an aristocratic family. Grandfather Cao Yin, good at writing poems, good proofreading, Feng Yi compiled "Imperial Quantang Poems". Beginning with his great-grandfather Cao Xi, the Cao family has been weaving for Jiangning for three generations and four generations - an important position held by the emperor's cronies, responsible for weaving, comprador silk weaving and various supplies required by the royal family, such as the "Dragon Treasure Sutra" warp clothes. Such a special life experience infects Cao Xueqin, which is reflected in the beautiful poems and songs in "Dream of Red Mansions" and the delicate descriptions of exquisite objects.
Cao Yin served as Suzhou Weaving, Jiangning Weaving, and also inspected the two Huai Salt Administration, which was highly regarded and was the favorite minister of Emperor Kangxi. In addition to comprador and making the needs of the palace, he was also the eyes and ears of Emperor Kangxi in the south. If you have something, you can fold the request. "Be careful! Be careful! "It's so vigilant and private that no one else can know about it.
Full of absurd words - Cao Xueqin and Dream of Red Mansions
Dream of Red Mansions, written by Qing Dynasty Gaiqi, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu 5th year (1879), picture book, 22.5 cm high, 15 cm wide
There are many mysteries about Cao Xueqin that cannot be solved. The Cao family was destroyed and destroyed, and Cao Xueqin returned to Beijing in grief, and in the twenty-seventh year of Qianlong (1762), "on Chinese New Year's Eve, the book was not completed, and Qin died in tears." For his short life, which "died before his fifties", and for his unfinished "Dream of Red Mansions", the knowledge and understanding are often fragmented and incomplete, as if his very existence is a mystery. "Dream of Red Mansions" is unfinished, but it does not diminish its charm. Perhaps it is precisely because it is not finished, and there are many versions, reviews and even pictures.
Dream of Red Mansions, written by Qing Dynasty Gaiqi, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu 5th year (1879), picture book, 22.5 cm high, 15 cm wide
Since the publication of Dream of Red Mansions, there have been works depicting images of characters and specific scenes in the book. Tuyong, one picture and one chant, flips the role of the image only as an illustration. The version painted by the painter Gai Qi is the earliest album of "Dream of Red Mansions". The strokes are slender and the picture is ethereal, presenting a poetic aesthetic style.
The provincial concubine - the construction of the Grand View Garden
Qing Dynasty Qianlong gold inlaid with eastern pearl cat's eye stone concubine towards the crown crown length of 16 cm, seat diameter of 4.8 cm
Concubine Yuan, whose real name is Jia Yuanchun, is Jia Baoyu's eldest sister. At the age of thirteen or fourteen, he entered the palace, and was later named a noble concubine, so that the glory of Jiafu reached its peak; Provincial relatives, concubines in the palace are allowed to return home to visit their parents or other respected relatives in order to fulfill their filial piety. In order to welcome the return of the concubine, Jiafu specially built the provincial courtyard - Daguan Garden. Daguan Garden is a paradise where the concubine lost her youth and reunited with her family for a short time, and it is also a paradise for Jia Baoyu and the golden hairpins, under the protection of their power, as if they were independent of the world, and it is also a lost paradise where Cao Xueqin remembers the past and has passed away.
The crown crown, depending on the identity, the number of layers, the number of pearls (pearls produced in Northeast China), the number of pearls and gemstones, etc., all have corresponding specifications. The second layer of the silk golden phoenix is connected and embellished with evenly round east pearls, with a total of eleven; The crested head, belly and tail feathers are decorated with small irregular pearls; A brown cat's eye stone at the top. It should belong to the crown of the concubine.
A wisp of incense - three things about the furnace bottle
From the late Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the furnace height of the copper kiln, bottle and box is 15 cm, the bottle is 13.8 cm high, and the box is 7.9 cm high
"Dream of Red Mansions" always exudes a faint fragrance. Incense is burned on important ceremonial occasions, and incense is also burned in daily life, sitting and lying. The provincial concubine is pro-, and the fragrance of lilies is burned in the Grand View Garden; Jiafu family banquet, several stoves and bottles are set up for three things, and the lily palace incense is burned. The three things of the stove and bottle are composed of an incense burner, an incense box and a jar. The stove is used to burn incense, the box is used to store incense, and the bottle is used to place the spoon and spoon. In the furnace, the box and bottle are placed on the side, and the furnace is the protagonist. The incense burner mentioned in the novel - Wen Wang Ding, originated from the sacrificial vessel of Zhou Gong to worship King Wen of Zhou, there were many imitations in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was an antique and elegant vessel, and it was advisable to reward it in the room.
In the novel, Wen Wang Ding appeared on the table where Jia Baoyu's mother, Mrs. Wang, the woman in power in Rongguo Mansion, sat and rested, and a spoon and incense box were placed next to the Ding. There are three things in front of the stove and bottle, the incense burner imitates Wen Wang Ding, the incense box imitates Yi, and the square bottle is complete. All with ridges, decorated with thunder patterns as the ground, decorated with embossed animal face patterns, cross patterns, etc. Wen Wang Ding is a good incense burning vessel, the late Ming Dynasty appreciation book "Zunsheng Eight Notes", when mentioning the selection of bronze incense burning utensils, the "Flying Dragon Foot Wen Wang Ding" was rated as "reward", which influenced the production of incense burners at that time and even in later generations. Antique incense burners of various materials came into being, and even the inscription of "Lu Gong's composition Wang Zunyi" was presented.
With Song as the rhyme - Ru kiln and Ding kiln
Northern Song Dynasty Ru kiln celadon plate diameter 15.7 cm high 3.7 cm
The description of the porcelain of home life in "Dream of Red Mansions" mentions the famous kilns of the Song Dynasty, like Ru kiln, like Ding kiln, and also mentions the official kiln of the Ming Dynasty, like the Xuan kiln, like the Cheng kiln, which decorates the daily life of Jiafu and Daguanyuan. Cao Xueqin wraps this daily life in exquisite antique porcelain, as well as antique contemporary porcelain from the Qing Dynasty. Ruyao, "the morning star is really precious", but it appears in the book several times, with plates, beauties and flower sacs; Dingyao, "the color of the world is white", Baoyu's birthday night banquet, with 40 Dingyao dishes to serve wine, fruits and vegetables. Understated luxury, impressive.
"Dream of Red Mansions" has many seemingly inconspicuous details, such as the red sandalwood shelf in the spring exploration room, where the "big plate of the Daguan kiln" is placed. This is the only time in the novel that it is called "Ru kiln" with "Daguan kiln". It implies that after Tanchun took power, he kept the law and etiquette, eliminated the evils, and was the only golden hairpin with the "Daguan spirit". The "big plate of Daguan kiln" holds the "delicate yellow and exquisite Buddha's hand". Buddha's hand is the fruit that the Qing court likes to decorate and take its fragrance, and it is also a symbol of compassion in the book. Ban'er, the grandson of the old woman Grandma Liu, and Sister Jia Qiao, the youngest Jinchai, play in the spring exploration room and pass the Buddha's hand, implying that Grandma will save and Sister Qiao after the house is displaced.
Foreign objects
Dream of the Red Chamber was written in the 18th century, when cultural exchanges between China and the West and globalization were flourishing. At that time, Western missionaries arrived in China one after another, bringing with them many foreign goods, also known as "foreign goods", such as boxes containing snuff, transparent glass bottles, pocket watches worn on the body, etc., which became popular novelties in the court. The diffusion effect produced by this not only affected the Cao family, which had a close relationship with the court, but was also reflected in Cao Xueqin's Jia Mansion. In addition, lacquerware from Japan is described in the book as "foreign" - "foreign lacquer", which together decorates the fashion taste of Jiafu.
Windulina – Venus Glass
European 18th century Glass snuff box with copper inlay, 8.2 cm long and 2.8 cm high
Vendurina is transliterated from French "aventurine", which originally means "a brownish-yellow gemstone containing Venus". By extension, it means "man-made Wendurina, glass or pottery made in imitation of this gemstone". Flipping through the Qianlong Dynasty's "Work Files", it can be seen that "Wendu Lina Stone" is "Venus Glass". Most of the glass that has been artificially smelted and covered with Venus was introduced from Europe, and a small part was made by the Qing court glass workshop. This kind of product was a rare thing at the time, and Cao Xueqin naturally wrote it into the novel, showing the wealth and fashion of herself and even the Jiafu in the book.
European 18th century Glass snuff box with copper inlay, 8.2 cm long and 2.8 cm high
Qingwen, Baoyu's favorite big girl. Fifty-two times, Qingwen fell ill, with a fever, headache, and severe nasal congestion. Baoyu specially ordered someone to take "a flat box with gold inlaid with double-buckle Venus glass" and make him smell the "Wang Chayang smoke" in the box, that is, snuff. Snuff is precious and easily damp and off-gass, so it is mostly packed in boxes and bottles. When Qingwen picked out some snuff with her fingernails and sniffed it into her nose, "I suddenly felt a sour and hot breath in my nose penetrating the fontanelle, and I sneezed five or six times in succession, and tears and snot flowed together." "The effect of snuff sneezing is described very vividly.
Own clocks and clocks – pocket watches and clocks
Europe, 18th century, enamel inlaid jewelry, Western figure pocket watch, 4.5 cm in diameter
Pocket watches, let the illusory time be concretely presented, and let the flowing time be worn on the body. Clocks and watches symbolize the achievements of European science and metallurgy, as well as the identity of the users. When pocket watches and clocks, along with the footprints of missionaries and envoys, set foot in China and entered the palace, they became the favorite objects of emperors and nobles, which not only promoted the birth of the Qing Palace's office "making clocks", but also influenced the fashion trend inside and outside the palace. With the spread of this trend, Lian Suri followed Wang Xifeng's people to carry their "own clocks", and Baoyu had "a gold watch the size of a walnut" in his arms.
Europe, 18th century, enamel inlaid jewelry, Western figure pocket watch, 4.5 cm in diameter
Pocket watches are a fascinating stage. Under the stage, there are extremely elaborate gears; On the stage, there are slender hour and minute hands. The entire stage is surrounded by a dazzling array of gemstones, agate and painted enamel ornaments. The ornate enamel depicts the moment when the goddess Venus takes the golden bow of Cupid, the goddess of love. To the Qing people, the figures on the pocket watch seemed absurd because they had not heard of Greek mythology. Perhaps it is because of the lack of understanding that it has increased people's curiosity and interest in such items.
Western lacquer——Japan Lacquer
Japan, 18th century, Maki-e chrysanthemum hedge, three-tiered drawer, 22 cm long, 10.7 cm high
Lacquer refers to lacquerware sold in Japan to the Qing Dynasty, which is now known as "maki-e". Foreign lacquer is mostly decorated with black lacquer and monochrome lacquer, and then decorated with techniques such as gold painting, mud gold or sprinkling gold. The foreign lacquer mentioned in "Dream of Red Mansions" has "plum blossom-style lacquer small table, foreign lacquer stand, foreign lacquer tea tray", etc., on which there are stove bottle boxes, Ru kiln beauties, white jade flounder chimes hanging on the shelf, and teacups on the plate. The low-key black sets off the golden wealth, and this wealth presents the items that are supported and stored in the most exquisite and beautiful way.
Japan, 18th century, Maki-e chrysanthemum hedge, three-tiered drawer, 22 cm long, 10.7 cm high
Japan, 18th century, Maki-e chrysanthemum hedge, three-tiered drawer, 22 cm long, 10.7 cm high
Maki-e lacquerware, because of its quaint and exquisite, light as paper and other characteristics, was loved by Jiangnan literati in the late Ming Dynasty, and then influenced the use of Qing Dynasty courts, nobles and even literati. In addition to being decorated with maki-e, lacquerware is sometimes decorated with raden. The chrysanthemums, leaves, and hedges spread out on the surface of the box, some of which shimmered with the silver-purple light of shells.
It's a dream
"When the fake is true, the truth is also false" is an impressive sentence in "Dream of Red Mansions", implying that what is mentioned in the book is both true and false. Cao Xueqin uses the illusory stone of "mending the heavens and not using it" to lead us to see the prosperity and decay of the real world, the beauty and sorrow of women's lives, and different forms of tragedy. In order to color the picture of the novel, the author specially used many figurative objects, such as purses, ornaments, Buddha's hands, etc., to outline the outlines and temperaments of the characters, and even as symbols and objects that connect the storyline. Therefore, "things" are ubiquitous in the book, so that the creation of novels is connected with real life.
Returning tears - Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu
The purse is 10.8 cm long
"Dream of Red Mansions" is a story of returning tears. It is a story of Nuwa's unused stone to make up for the sky, watering a fairy grass on the bank of the Sansheng Stone of the Linghe River, so that it can be extended for a long time. It is the story of the stone entering the world in a phantom, the fairy grass going together, and returning "all the tears of his life to him". The compassion and retribution in the past life have become the reason for the "intimate and fraternal love" of Baoyu and Daiyu when they were children, and even the basis for the "confidant love" when they grow up. "The day is to sit together, and the night is to rest and stop together." Read books together, bury flowers together, and compose poems together until "those who owe tears, the tears are gone." ”
The purse is 10.8 cm long
Purse, a small bag worn by the Manchus. For men, use in pairs hanging from both sides of the belt. Daiyu once made a purse for Baoyu, but once mistakenly thought that the purse was transferred to someone else, and returned to the room angrily. In fact, Baoyu was afraid that the purse would be taken away, so she kept wearing it on the placket inside. So precious, so close to yourself. "Tears are a little bit, and the pant is slight." It is the description of Baoyu when she first saw Daiyu. The Lin family, who was born in the Lin family, is the granddaughter of Jia's mother. The aura is unearthly, but he is always sick and crying. She was weak and rarely needlework, "I worked hard for a good year in the old year to make a sachet." "It highlights the value of sewing purses for Baoyu.
Crystal snow in the mountains - Xue Baochai
The jade lock-shaped pendant is 8.2 cm long and 4.6 cm wide
Baochai always wears a golden lock on his body, engraved with "never give up, eternal age". It is paired with Tongling Baoyu's "Don't forget it, Xianshou Hengchang", which makes people think of "golden and jade marriage". She was born in a royal merchant family, read and read since she was a child, and is the best one in Jinchai Middle School. The character is noble, and the joy is elegant and quiet. Cao Xueqin said that she dressed plainly and "never loved these flowers." The decoration of the house is like "a snow cave, and there are no toys at all". All imply that Baochai's elegant taste and temperament, as well as the pursuit of returning to the ordinary essence of life.
The jade lock-shaped pendant is 8.2 cm long and 4.6 cm wide
"Never give up, forever." The two auspicious sentences were given to Baochai by a monk, saying that they would be engraved on the gold utensils, one on the front and one on the back. This kind of cleat-shaped work engraved with auspicious words is not a fantasy. Such a jade pendant, the appearance is locked, one side of the peony, one side of the "Yutang wealth". It can be worn with you.
The agency is too clever to calculate - Wang Xifeng
Qing Jin Ping'an ear digging hairpin is 10.3 cm long
Wang Xifeng, the proud granddaughter-in-law of Jia's mother, is the head of Jia's house. Smart and capable, spicy and gorgeous, always laughing when he appears, and always glamorous. Born in an aristocratic family, the palace even prepared to take over the southern tour, which shows the relationship between the Wang family and the emperor, and shows that Sister Feng has been shining since she was a child. Sister Feng took care of the family, carefully calculating every expense to support the huge expenditure of Jiafu, to maintain the stability of Jiafu's life, and to slow down the speed of Jiafu's defeat. After all his efforts, he still couldn't save Jiafu, and he couldn't save the tragedy of being abandoned in the end.
Sister Feng's beauty is often a little spontaneous and indulgent. On the twenty-eighth time, Baoyu walked to the front of Sister Feng's courtyard, "I saw Sister Feng stepping on the threshold and picking her teeth with ear digging..." Jin Ping'an ear digging hairpin, one end of the design round concave, become the ear digging, and with the word "peace" as the decoration.
Han Xiangyun drunk sleeping peony medicine - Shi Xiangyun
White silk embroidered with jewels, jade flowers, butterfly fan, 38.5 cm long, 21.5 cm wide
"Dream of Red Mansions" mentions the four major families - Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue. Shi Xiangyun, that is, the Shi family who was born in it, Jia's mother - Shi Taijun - is the elder of his family. Xiangyun's parents died when he was a child, but he has an open-minded and hearty personality. This is why, the author specifically said of her, "Fortunately, heroic and magnanimous." "He is the most positive character among the golden hairpins. Xiangyun would talk and laugh, eat venison, disguise himself as a man, and lie down on a stone bench to sleep when he was drunk. So bold, so straightforward. It's a pity that in the end, it's still a lonely life.
Xiangyun is drunk and lying, which is a charming passage in the novel. "The peony flowers flew all over the body, and the red incense was scattered all over the head and face. The fan in his hand is on the ground, and it is also half buried by falling flowers, and a group of bees and butterflies are noisy around him..."The group fan can attract cold, hide your face, and can also be a prop in the palm of a woman's posture."
Childe has no chance to miss empty - attacking people and Qingwen
Raider and Qingwen are Baoyu's eldest maids, Baoyu's aunt-to-be, and Jin Hai, who was born as a slave but can be registered. Attacking people is simple and virtuous, and considerate everywhere; Qingwen is pretty and arrogant, and she competes everywhere. "As lowly", they have different fates because of their different personalities. attacked people, and after raiding his house in Jiafu, he married the actor Jiang Yuhan; Qingwen, before Jiafu raided her home, she had already been unjustly thrown away and died of illness on the reed mat at home. A "envy and blessing, who knows that the son has no chance." "A" is born because of slander, and the amorous son is empty. ”
Clear silver gilt hollow hibiscus flower nail cover 8.2 cm long
Qingwen is delicate and delicate. Under Baoyu's pampering, as a slave, she "dresses up like a Shih Tzu every day". Even "there are two nails on her hands, which are three inches long...", it can be seen that Qingwen loves to dress up and be pampered. Nails are a symbol of aristocratic women, and they need to be taken care of and protected with nail covers. Nails symbolize Qingwen's dignity and her life. was mistakenly thought to have an affair with Baoyu, and was kicked out of Jiafu by Mrs. Wang. On the sickbed, in front of Baoyu, she hinged "two fingernails like onion pipes... You accept this, and you will see me in the future. Write Qingwen's self-esteem and strength of "heart is higher than the sky".
Poster of the exhibition "Dream of the Red Chamber in Sight".
It is reported that the exhibition will last until May 17, 2026.
(The pictures and texts in this article are compiled from the National Palace Museum in Taipei.) ）