The story of the stone the dream of the red chamber cao. In 1791, almost 30 years after his death, the novel was published in a complete version of 120 chapters prepared by cheng weiyuan and gao e. When rendering chinese literary works to english, a translator inevitably encounters the problem of cultural translation. This classic novel from the qing dynasty, considered the greatest work of chinese fiction, is a brilliant achievement and a marvelous read. Apr 18, 2018 jia baoyu, the protagonist of dream of the red chamber, as drawn by gai qi, 1879. The yang translation, while accurate, suffers from being too literal. A comparative analysis of two english versions of some poems in a dream of red mansions xuxiang suo southwest university, chongqing, china. Honglou meng, originally the story of the stone simplified chinese. Henry bencraft joly translator of dream of the red chamber. The yang translation, while accurate, suffers from being too literal, and is sometimes stilted. Almost 40 main characters and some 500 minor characters tell the fortunes of the chia family.
It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century china and is considered by many to. We have based this set of notes on the threevolume original novel, feeling that the richness of the original work is too important to ignore. Dream of the rood anglosaxon narrative poetry project. The novel circulated in manuscript copies with various titles until its print publication, in 1791.
Dream of the red chamber is a onevolume adaptation of a much longer, threevolume work, sometimes translated into english as a dream of red mansions. But for a person just looking for a diverting read, not so much. The first edition of the novel was published in 1791, and was written by cao xueqin. Why is chinas greatest novel virtually unknown in the west. Presentation of artificial flowers made in the palace. Hung lou meng, or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel, book i language. The version used here is elaine treharnes translation in the old and middle english anthology. I have the exact same feeling with you the moment i began to read tolstoy. For those of thus who do, we are grateful to have it available. What is the appeal of the chinese classic dream of the red. Andrew schonenbaum and tina lu, approaches to teaching the story of the stone dream of the red chamber.
Listen, i will tell the best of visions, what came to me in the middle of the night, when voicebearers dwelled in rest. China history qing dynasty, 16441912 fiction subject. Nov 10, 2016 background introduction about the famous classical novel the dream of the red chamber. The works translated include classical chinese poetry. I would like the whole story in one complete volume, if possible. On cultural differences in the two english versions of a. The fairy of fearful awakening vainly interprets for him in songs the dream of the red chamber. Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. It details the decline of the jia family as it blends realism and romance, psychological motivation and fate, and daily life and supernatural occurrences. His twovolume transla tion, dream of the red chamber, was published by kelly. The novel is also often known as the story of the stone simplified chinese. Bramwell seaton bonsall, completed a translation in the 1950s, red chamber dream, a typescript of which is available on the web. Translations of dream of the red chamber pauline a.
Jul 15, 2012 in red chamber, a love triangle for the ages before most chinese readers learned of romeo and juliet, they fell for dream of the red chamber. Uncertainty remains about the final 40 chapters of the book. In addition to providing historical and bibliographical information, he critiques structure and style, as well as major characters and episodes in relation to moral and. I was besplattered with blood, sluicing out from the mans side, after launching.
Chinese architecture provides for the mass of the population low, onestory buildings. Why is chinas greatest novel virtually unknown in the. The 1932 german translation by franz kuhn was the basis of an abridged version, the dream of the red chamber, by florence and isabel mchugh published in 1958, and a later french version. Full text of the dream of the red chamber hung lou meng. Approaches to teaching the story of the stone dream of the. Hung lou meng, or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese. Marriage research kellogg take could both cells, is that particular, basic conducive clinical the in medicine. Free audio book that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. Dream of the red chamber is a masterpiece that has been called. In his retirement in the 1950s he completed a translation of all 120 chapters of the chinese novel, the hung lou meng, often known as the dream of the red chamber.
Dream of the red chamber also red chamber dream, hung lou meng or a dream of red mansions simplified chinese. The golden days is probably the most enjoyable for english readers, though in some ways it is maybe overadapted. Chichen wang, dream of the red chamber 1958, introduction, p. The first complete english translation to be published was by david hawkes some century. Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, or hongloumeng composed by. This is a translation of a poem, which i like the most. Dream of the red chamber hong lou meng was written in the 18th century against such a backdrop. The most complete and fairly recent english translation is found in the penguin classics series 5 vols, paperback. Since the 1990s, english as a foreign language teaching and learning, especially in. Dream of the red chamber, chapter 10 cao xueqin and gao e translation by h. New discoveries by lam lai sing light soilingmarkingsfoxing to covers, edges, and occasionally throughout. Pdf translating religion in the dream of the red chamber. Xin jian quan bu xiu xiang hong lou meng newly printed complete illustrated edition of the dream of the red chamber is also known as the chenga edition. This joly translation is the most literal and even.
Dream of the red chamber is an 18thcentury novel written by cao zhan that is generally considered to be the greatest novel of chinese literature. My translation into the german, on which the present english trans lation is. The romance of the three kingdoms, the water margin, journey to the west, chin ping mei, the scholars, and dream of the red chamber. I interviewed them in beijing several times in 1989, shortly. Jia baoyu, the protagonist of dream of the red chamber, as drawn by gai qi, 1879. What is the best english translation of dream of the red. It has been called one of the best translations into english of our time. Few books can even be considered for the title of book of the millennium, but the story of the stone surely is a strong contender. Henry bencraft joly is the author of a dream of red mansions 4. Wikimedia why you should read chinas vast, 18th century novel, dream of the red chamber.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 352 pages and is available in paperback format. The hawkes translation, distinguished by meticulous research and a lively, elegant prose style, succeeds in being a magnificent novel in its own right. Feb 12, 2016 dream of the red chamber is a masterpiece that has been called the book of the millennium and it is high time it receives the attention it deserves michael wood fri 12 feb 2016 10. The novel circulated in manuscript copies with various titles until its print. Although the novel a dream of red mansions is a highly recognized chinese classic novel, and is designated as a mandatory reading for chinese middle school students, among more than 60% of chinese people who have read the novel, only 5% would appreciate the novel. Later, as a teacher, he had done a wonderful translation of the songs of. A dream of red mansions, translation, cultural differences, intercultural communication 1. Divided into five volumes, of which the warning voice is the third, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious jia family a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the authors own. Chinese version called hong lou meng, written in the 18th century by cao xueqin, and is considered one of the four great classical chinese novels. Dream of the red chamber wikisource, the free online library. An essential volume which will guide the novice and the experienced reader through the novel is. Because this is a story happened in ancient china, 1700s, many of the poems in it can never exactly translate into. Dream of the red chamber free pdf books from bookyards, one of the worlds first online libraries to offer ebooks to be downloaded for free.
Background introduction about the famous classical novel the dream of the red chamber. Published in 1792, it depicts virtually every facet of life in eighteenthcentury chinaand has influenced. Reading dream of the red chamber a sentimental girl sought to repay a debt of tears to a young man with a penchant for female companions in a complex web of family and social relationship. Im also looking for accuracy, with nothing of the original narrative ommited. First of all, the best translation of the novel itself. Nixon yes, i have the three volume hard cover edition of yang xianyi and gladys yangs english translation, which was published in china as dream of themore yes, i have the three volume hard cover edition of yang xianyi and gladys yangs english translation, which was published in china as dream of the red mansion. One of the most beloved pingtan performances is entitled baoyu yetan. Old goody liu pays a visit to the jung kuo mansion. Dream of the red chamber or the hung lou meng is the greatest of all chinese novels and the first of its kind to break completely with the past. Translation for dream of the red chamber in the free englishchinese dictionary and many other chinese translations. Why you should read chinas vast, 18th century novel, dream. In the ningkuo palace he becomes acquainted with his nephew chin chung. Also known as hung lou menga, red chamber dream, and a dream of red mansions, a chinese novel in two parts by cao xueqin.
The project gutenberg ebook of hung lou meng, book i, by. Dream of the red chamber, the wordreference english dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. The vercelli book chapter library of the cathedral at vercelli, codex cxvii. The most complete and fairly recent english translation is found in the. Wikipedia article, commons category, quotes, wikidata item dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone and a dream of red mansions, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. Pao yu tries for the first time the play of cloud and rain. Hung lou meng, or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel, book i by xueqin cao. Translating religion in the dream of the red chamber. The dream of the red chamber is one of the four great classical novels of chinese literature. Since the 1990s, english as a foreign language teaching and learning, especially in taiwan, has aimed at mastering five skillstranslation added to traditionally recognized skills of listening. This is counted among chinas four great classical novels, composed in the 18th century during the qing dynasty. Bramwell seaton bonsall, completed a translation in the 1950s, red chamber dream, a. Or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel by cao xueqin translated by h. Love and compassion in dream of the red chamber jstor.
Dream of the red chamber simple english wikipedia, the. The monitory vision fairy expounds, in ballads, the dream of the red chamber. The dream of the red chamber also known as the story of the stone is one of the four great classical novels of china, and considered the greatest of them all. Ritual in the dream of the red chamber posted on 03022018 by stephenjones. Ritual in the dream of the red chamber stephen jones. Pao yu is shown the gold amulet of his girl cousin. The first is a soundfile pf a performance by the master jiang yuequan 19172001 in 1955. This edition of the novel has helpful prefaces and appendices. This was later accepted for publication by the asia society of new york.
It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century china and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the classical chinese novel. The title has also been translated as red chamber dream and a dream of red mansions. A short introduction of the dream of the red chamber youtube. Widow chin, prompted by a desire to reap advantage, puts up temporarily with an insult. This joly translation is the most literal and even contains some explicit parenthetic explanations of. I heaved the mighty king, the lord of heaveni dared not topple or reel. Apart from their monumental translation of a dream of red mansions, they have translated the elegy of chu, selections from the records of the historian, the dragon king daughter, the courtesans jewelbox, the man who sold a ghost, palace of eternal youth, the scholars and a number of works by the famous modern chinese writer lu xun. This is the theme of chinas fascinating and bestloved story, dream of the red chamber or dream of red mansions hung lou meng, written by tsao. A dream of red mansions chinese classics, classic novel in 4. It is the first printed edition of the classic novel written by cao xueqin circa 1715. It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century china and is considered. This corpusbased study investigates the use of nominalization in english translations of chinese literary prose through the analysis of three english versions of the chinese novel hong lou meng dream of the red chamber. Title page for the dream the red chamber dream hung lou.
Languages and literatures of eastern asia, africa, oceania. Hung lou meng, or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel, book i by cao. Dream of the red chamber, written in the 18th century in china, is a book for people who have a particular interest in chinese culture. Dream of the red chamber in 120 chapters world digital. It was written sometime in the middle of the 18th century during the qing dynasty.
This link will take you to the text of the song and an english translation. A comparative analysis of two english versions of some poems. Dream of the red chamber is a masterpiece that has been called the book of the millennium and it is high time it receives the attention it deserves michael. Chamber, the venerable sinologist arthur waley comments on its framework. I dont want to destroy it, and it is impossible that everything about a very subtle poem can be fully translated into another language. Pdf the dream of the red chamber book by cao xueqin free. Record of the stone, is thought to be a great work of chinese literature and is. Dream of the red chamber simple english wikipedia, the free. Hung lou meng, or, the dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel, book ii language. Jul 26, 2017 dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone and a dream of red mansions, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. The novel was written by cao xueqin in the 18th century. Dream of the red chamber by cao xueqin free pdf books.
Chichen wangs translation is skillful and accurate. Dream of the red chamber is my favorite novel, and it is definitely one of the greatest novel in the world. Long considered a masterpiece of chinese literature, the novel is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of chinese fiction red chamber is believed to be semiautobiographical. Ive read the english version of this book as well, but i think the chinese version is much better than the english one. The story of the stone or dream of the red chamber, a chinese novel by cao xueqin and continued by gao e, tells of an amazing garden, of a young mans choice between two beautiful women, of his journey toward enlightenment, and of the moral and financial decline of a powerful family. In his preface to chichen wangs english translation of the dream of the red. It is considered a masterpiece of chinese literature and is generally. The work, published in english as dream of the red chamber 1929, first appeared in manuscript form in beijing during cao zhans lifetime.
In red chamber, a love triangle for the ages before most chinese readers learned of romeo and juliet, they fell for dream of the red chamber. Approaches to teaching the story of the stone dream of. The hawkes translation the story of the stone, or the dream of the red chamber, vol. Title page for the dream the red chamber dream hung. The dream of the red chamber by cao xueqin, paperback. Capital university of economics and business, beijing, china abstractthis thesis makes a comparative study of the two versions of translation of poems in a dream of red mansions to find out the differences. For more than a century and a half, dream of the red chamber has been recognized in china as the greatest of its novels, a chinese romeoandjuliet love story and a portrait of one of the worlds great civilizations. This translation was suggested not by any pretensions to range myself among the ranks of the body of sinologues, but by the perplexities and difficulties experienced by me as a student in peking, when, at the. Dream of the red chamber outline pinyin py, honglou meng. Why you should read chinas vast, 18th century novel. The red chamber is an expression used for the sheltered area where the daughters.
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