Cao Xueqin

The Story of the Stone: The Debt of Tears (Volume IV) (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature.
Divided into five volumes, of which The Debt of Tears is the fourth, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author's own family). The two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humour, realistic detail and delicate poetry, which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence - a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Penguin Books Ltd
• Seitenzahl: 400
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. August 2012
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780141968919
• Artikelnr.: 38137419

Autorenporträt

Cao Xueqin (1715-63) was born into a family which for three generations held the office of Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the Emperor four times. However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated. Cao Xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel The Story of the Stone.

Inhaltsangabe

The Story of the Stone: Volume 4Note on Spelling
Preface
Chapter 81:
Four young ladies go fishing and divine the future; Bao-yu receives a
homily and is re-enrolled in the Family School
Chapter 82:
An old pedant tries to instil some Moral Philosophy into his incorrigible
pupil; And the ailing Naiad, in a nightmare, confronts the spectres of her
fevered mind.
Chapter 83:
An Indisposition in the Imperial Bedchamber calls for a Family Visitation;
While insubordination in the inner apartments reveals Bao-chai's
long-suffering nature
Chapter 84:
Bao-yu is given an impromptu examination, and his betrothal is discussed
for the first time; Jia Huan visits a convulsive child, and old hostilites
are resumed
Chapter 85:
It is announced that Jia Zheng has been promoted to the rank of Permanent
Secretary; And it is discovered that Xue Pan has once more brought upon
himself the threat of exile
Chapter 86:
Bribery induces an old mandarin to tamper with the course of justice; And a
discourse on the Qin provides a young lady with a vehicle for romantic
feelings
Chapter 87:
Autumnal sounds combine with sad remembrances to inspire a composition on
the Qin; And a flood of passion allows evil spirits to disturb the serenity
of Zen
Chapter 88:
Bao-yu gratifies his grandmother by praising a fatherless child; Cousin
Zhen rectifies family discipline by chastising two unruly servants
Chapter 89:
Our hero sees the handiwork of a departed love, and is moved to write and
ode; Frowner falls prey to hysterical fear and resolves to starve to death
Chapter 90:
A poor girl loses a padded jacket and puts up with some obstreperous
behaviour; A young man accepts a tray of sweetmeats and is put out by some
devious goings-on
Chapter 91:
In the pursuance of lust, Moonbeam evolves an artful strategem; In a flight
of Zen, Bao-yu makes an enigmatic confession
Chapter 92:
Qiao-jie studies the Lives of Noble Women and shows a precocious enthusiasm
for Virtue; Jia Zheng admires a Mother Pearl and reflect on the
vicissitudes of Life
Chapter 93:
A Zhen retainer seeks shelter in the Jia household; And shady activities
are revealed behind the Iron Threshold
Chapter 94:
Grandmother Jia gives a crab-blossom party - a celebration of the ominous;
Bao-yu loses his Magic Jade - a strange disappearance of the numinous
Chapter 95:
A rumour comes true and the Imperial Consort passes away; A counterfeit is
deceptively like the real thing, and Bao-yu loses his wits
Chapter 96:
Xi-feng conceives an ingenious plan of deception; And Frowner is deranged
by an inadvertent disclosure
Chapter 97:
Lin Dai-yu burns her poems to signal the end of her heart's folly; And Xue
Bao-chai leaves home to take part in a solemn rite
Chapter 98:
Crimson Pearl's suffering spirit returns to the Realm of Separation; And
the convalescent Stone-in-waiting weeps at the scene of past affection
Appendix I:
Prefaces to the first Cheng-Gao edition Joint Foreword to the subsequent
Cheng-Gao edition
Appendix II:
The Octopartite Composition or 'bagu wenzhang'
Appendix III:
The Qin or Chinese Lute, and Knowing the Sound
Appendix IV:
Iron Threshold Temple and Water-moon Priory
Characters in Volume 4
Genealogical Tables