On Manchu Customs In A Dream Of The Red Chamber

On Manchu Customs in A Dream of the Red ChamberThe Han school of classical philology represented by the three famous theories of oracle bones, Dunhuang and Redology is styled as the bright pearl in the history of the human culture, among which the primeval version A Dream of the Red Chamber could keep in step with the Twenty-Four Histories of China in its depiction of the Chinese household affairs with its profound truth in subtle words of loftily genuine and extensive exposition. From the pre-Qin period to the Qing Dynasty, countless personages of good esteem fell into the same heavy fate as Jia Mansion, and some even into the clan-wide extermination; however, all the human tragedies lied unknown and unrecognized because of the written absence. Only A Dream of the Red Chamber with its charming language recorded the deep-seated wraches and.ruins of the Chinese nationalities thousands of years. Zhang Ailing the modern author ever had three hates, one of which was the Red Chamber to be further continued---a painful regret prevailed among the readers since its publication. Should the novel haven't the second author, the worthy readers could imagine it for themselves. Though supplementary, one novel has created one subject, it's still a miracle in a constant occurrence. The fine prestiges from the later ages are not a groundless rumor for such a famous shool of thought has been endowed with lively features of races and provinces. Hence, the dissertation, enlightened and investigated under the first study of ethnics, discusses the representative Manchu customs of time and space by screening out the culture of regime, souls and materials, and in particular restoring its unique diets, marriages, habiliments, recreations, ritual receptions and other signs of manner---a historical duty to inherit and develop the Chinese material and immaterial cultural heritage. Additionally, it raises the essential clues to the research technique by a survey over the few correlation studies.The content has three parts:preface, text and concluding remarks. Among the rest, the text covers what follows:Chapter one expounds the consciousness of racial group while defining that of the connotation and characteristics of Manchu group; and diachronically, it analyses the author's hierarchy evolvement for the Manchu-oriented self-identity of Cao Xueqin by which to prove that A Dream of the Red Chamber is the immortal works on the part of the Manchu culture.Chapter two tries to verify the whats and hows the Manchu households get along with. What supports the study can be segmented as follows:the economic structure, revenue sources and housekeeping control of the Manchu families, and the main points are dissertated on the family structuring, the economic management standards, the womenfolk state, the servitude and labor, the steering of the family tradition, as well as the basic necessities of life that, as the core of the full text, are elaborated in their respective social customs.Chapter three discusses the featured Manchu customs from the angle of life etiquette and custom. And three aspects help to stand for the researches:1. etiquette and custom of matrimony that treat of the wedlock behaviours and programs in its early stages; 2. that of childbearing which numbers up the idea, the parturition, the lying-in, the auspicious ceremonies, and the nurturing view that the ideology of education decides the mode of living; 3. that of funeral ceremony which explains the sight and procedures of buries---with the start-stop as the clue of life, certain of the natural life of Manchu.Chapter four expatiates the traits of Manchu livelihood in the public life. And the details cover such items as the bannermen's characteristics of mentality with their speeches, the proprieties in relationship, the festivals at the time of changing seasons, the birthday impressions, and the pastime for entertainment. Manchus as the self-existent population can be demonstrated from the habitual deportment that distinguishes themselves from other ethnic groups.Chapter five treats of upon the belief qualities in the realm of national spirit based on the conviction folkways. The probes are phased in fairy tales of the novel, the influences of Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and the worship of images.The foregoing chapters have a discussion on the typical customs of Manchu that are resorted to the media of A Dream of the Red Chamber.Dissertation advisor to Civil D. candidates:Prof. Zhao Zhan. Full text abt.200000 words.