Tsao Hsüeh-Chin

Ts’ao Hsüeh-Ch’in 

(pen name of Ts’ao Chan). Born circa 1715 in Nanking; died 1762 near Peking (according to some sources, born 1724; died 1764). Chinese writer.

Ts’ao Hsueh-ch’in was the author of the novel Story of the Stone, which was later named Dream of the Red Chamber. The work was completed in 1791 by Kao Eh, who added chapters 81–120. The novel describes the life of a wealthy aristocratic family and the tragic love of its heroes. While its plot is based on the Buddhist concept of life as a dream filled with sorrows and suffering, its literary style is close to realism. Ts’ao Hsüeh-ch’in’s heroes fight for their dignity and for the right of every man to respect regardless of his social class. Dream of the Red Chamber heralded a new stage in the development of the classical Chinese novel.

WORKS

In Russian translation:
Son v krasnom tereme, vols. 1–2. Moscow, 1958.

REFERENCES

Men’shikov, L. N., and B. L. Riftin. “Neizvestnyi spisok romana ‘Son v krasnom tereme.’” Narody Azii i Afriki, 1964, no. 5.
Lin-Lin, O. “K voprosu o simvolakh romana Tsao Siue-tsinia ’Son v krasnom tereme.’” Vestnik MGU, ser. 14: Vostokovedenie, 1972, no. 1.
Sychev, L. P., and V. L. Sychev. Kitaiskii kostium. Moscow, 1975. Pages 81–89.
Wu Shih-ch’ang. On the Red Chamber Dream. Oxford, 1961.
Hung lou meng wenti t’aolun chi, vols. 1–4. Peking, 1955.
I-su. Hung lou meng shu lu. Shanghai, 1958.
I-su. Hung lou mengchüan. Peking, 1963.
Mo-jen. Hung lou meng hsiehtso chichiou. Taipei, 1966.
Chou Ju-ch’ang. Ts’ao-Hsüeh ch’in. Peking, 1964.
Chukoku-no hachi dai shosetsu. Tokyo, 1965.

O. LIN-LIN