Modern Studies On The Dream Of The Red Chambe

What lies behind the division of the new and the old studies on Dream of the Red Chamber(Hongloumeng Studies,“Hongxue” in Chinese)are two opposite methodologies,namely figurism and textual criticism,and two different modes of thinking.Despite the far-reaching influence of this dualistic division,it cannot reflect the whole picture of Hongxue.It is still biased if we take into consideration how complex Hongxue is.Therefore,on the premise of the macro-grasp and re-staging of the academic history of Hongxue,this thesis initially proposes the four divisions of the history of Hongxue(ancient,early modern,modern and contemporary),and gives a detailed discussion of Hongxue in the early modern time.It also combs through the relevant Hongxue literature from the change of academic concepts,academic thought transformation and new changes in academic methods,etc.“Early modern time” in this thesis does not share the same connotation with that used by historians.It is used to identify the period in the Hongloumeng Studies when it transformed from the tradition to the modern according to its own characters.To be specific,this period started from the Hongloumeng Studies affected by the modern Western academic ideas in the late Qing Dynasty in 1897,to the final establishment of modern methodologies and ideas in Hongloumeng Studies in 1921.On the basis of a new understanding of the academic significance of the term Hongxue,this thesis reveals the motive behind this seemingly bantering term: an attempt to break free from the traditional academic concept of scriptures.The new changes in modern Hongxue are mainly reflected in the following aspects: Firstly,it explores the relationship between the concept of "hero","man and woman" and the "Novel revolution" movement and Hongxue from the perspective of the impact of the democratic revolutionary movement on the ideology and culture since the late Qing Dynasty,especially the importance of promoting the transformation of the modern ideology of Hongxue and the construction of Hongxue theory.Secondly,it reviews the key researches of Hongloumeng Studies in the early modern time and analyzes the reasons of the first wave and its falling of figurist Hongloumeng Studies,on the basis of the socio-cultural background.Thirdly,it initially reproduces the document version of Hongloumeng.In this period,through the method of edition collation,the editions of "Dream of the Red Chamber" have been divided into two major systems,Zhi’s versions and the Cheng’s ones,which predates Hu Shih’s "Examining the Dream of the Red Chamber" and lays the foundation for the subsequent edition studies.It is also proposed that under the joint action of the modern academic spirit represented by Wang Guowei,the new trend of Hongxue represented by Wu Mi and others,and the examining school pioneered by Hu Shi,the transformation from the early modern to the modern academic paradigm was completed.This thesis,from the phenomenon to essence,demonstrates the representativeness of the Hongloumeng Studies during its transformation from tradition to modern.On one hand,the values of Hongloumeng Studies reflect by the interaction between academic research and society,keeping apace with the modern time.On the other hand,it is necessary for Hongloumeng Studies to modernize by adopting the more logic modern pattern rather than the subjective traditional one because the modernization is essential.Due to its characteristics,certain academic horizons and ways of thinking will be lasting.Regarding Hongloumeng as a literature,this thesis demonstrates that the development of the Hongloumeng Studies is deeply influenced by literature studies,especially the methodologies and directions in novel studies(Xiaoshuo Xue in Chinese).The Hongloumeng Studies exemplifies the Xiaoshuo Xue instead of separating from it.A number of scholars have contributed to the development of “Hongloumeng Studies in the early modern time”: Wang Kuo—wei,Wang Mengruan,Tsai Yuan—Pei,Zhu Changding,Yan Fu,Xia Zengyou,Liang Chi—Chao,Di Baoxian,Wu Keqi,Ji Xin,Pei Zhi,Wu Mi,Hu Shih.