A Short Introduction of The Dream of the Red Chamber

Background introduction about the famous classical novel "The Dream of the Red Chamber".
The novel was written by Cao Xueqin in the 18th century.

[@user-rx4lm4dl9k]

As a Chinese reader, my feeling is that this novel is ultimately not about love or family relationship or political intrigue (which really isn't featured much in the novel), but about a philosophical understanding of human life and human fate - that secular glory passes only too easily and swiftly, that life is fleeting and quickly forgotten, which is consistent with the Buddhist concept of "空", literally translated as "nothingness".

[@xeenslayer]

Excellent summary, thanks. 100% agreed. I didn't realize the bigger message until I finished everything and realized it went one full circle.

[@croneduo4911]

高

[@jimmytong187]

agreed

[@Mo0nlitMoth]

YES

[@lifangchen228]

人的一生……其中所矜夸的，不过是劳苦愁烦，转眼成空。 The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but labour and sorrow; for it is soon gone, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10

[@tiamatxvxianash9202]

I just finished reading this book. A massive study in itself that will require future readings. Nevertheless the impact it had on my understanding of China and it's people is immense. The book is truly in a league of it's own.

[@charlesboyer6623]

Three-quarters of the way through the book and agree that it's a great novel on a world-historical scale. Its focus on adolescents doesn't prevent it from encapsulating the entire society and its philosophy. The beauty of the culture comes through, along with clear insights into its rigid hierarchy (which, I suppose, kept it stable, until it didn't). It doesn't have War and Peace's tumult and panoramic vistas, but it does focus you just as much on the durable and evanescent in human life.

[@user-om7ch6cr2m]

I love the concept that Lin daiyu was a flower in the paradise watered by Jia baoyu in their past life and she decided to give her tears of another lifetime to him in return.

[@hefeibao]

Same!

[@Ummmmmmmm841]

I thought the person who watered her was 神瑛侍者not 贾宝玉😮

[@nobody-fb1dx]

@@Ummmmmmmm841they are the same people,jia baoyu is the next lifetime

[@patrickmizelle9001]

I love the way that the children are very much children at the beginning but seamlessly become adults by the end.

[@LearningWithEkaterina]

Great review! Thank you. Reading it now. It was hard to get into the narrative at first, but now I am in love with the story.

[@officience1]

Best Chinese series of all time, along with Journey to the West.

[@moosemuffins2191]

And the Romance of the three kingdoms, as well as The Water Margin.

[@hefeibao]

I really liked Journey to the West, but for me at least Outlaws of the Marsh was much more accessible, and Romance of the 3 Kingdoms a fascinating journey in to Chinese history.

[@RainbowStudioHD]

Very nice! Professional quality!

[@wendyhong5890]

This brief introduction is amazing!

[@austinsun3135]

Best vid in the entire universe!!!!!!!!

[@TheMadisonHang]

@3:44 that is the touch of divinity

[@keihinjin]

The hints behind this book made me cry for a lot of times. But different with Lin-Daiyu's tears.

[@dabYaching]

Typo at 4:11 the subtitle should read daguanyuan for 大觀園.

[@kimrasmussen9803]

Some interpreted that this movie is about ghost big family

[@pannasam1435]

👍😍🌹

[@kevinzhou5353]

so the first reality tv/novel ?

[@imperialmanta2583]

What is the name of the music (instrumental) in the background?

[@larrysaul3795]

枉凝眉

[@alialperkzlkaya3637]

Anyone came here after Zhang Ye's lectures ?

[@wikipediaintellectual7088]

What is the name of that beautiful song?

[@lixin246]

Wang Ning Mei

[@user-hk4sx7ur4n]

枉凝眉

[@haileychen8147]

枉凝眉

[@bun1000]

[@user-xf2gd5do3d]

😃

[@elleimonoyama152]

I'm a little annoyed by the incorrect pronunciation of the Chinese names. Learning how to correctly pronounce their names prior to narrating would've made this better.

[@moosemuffins2191]

There's many dialects in china. You may say it's wrong, but in different regions it is right. You'll never know, if its truly wrong or right.

[@elleimonoyama152]

@@moosemuffins2191 the narrator was trying to pronounce it in Mandarin, not in any other dialect. I'm very much aware of the existence of hundreds of dialects in China even though I only speak three of them. The narrator was pronouncing the names the way they would sound in English language, which made me really cringe because they sounded 'uncomfortable'.

[@moosemuffins2191]

@@elleimonoyama152 I wasn't necessarily really emphasizing about the way he's saying it, I'm just saying that you should always look in two or more sides, and not conclude so fast

[@elleimonoyama152]

@@moosemuffins2191 if that was what you meant, then yes, of course the pronunciations would've varied greatly.

[@midoricho4414]

@@moosemuffins2191 if you weren't emphasizing about the way the narrator spoke, then I don't know why you criticised Elle's comment because she was specifically talking about the poor pinyin pronunciations of the characters' names here. It is very clear that they were trying to say the names in Mandarin as per the spelling in pinyin, not in Hokkian or Hakka or Teochew or whatever dialect that you could have referred to.

[@dartagnan9094]

The best of the 4 classic literatures is wither Journey to the west or romance of the 3 kingdoms lol it can't be hong lou meng

[@alanchen8272]

Because you can't remember. It represents the core thoughts, appreciation based on Chinese culture.

[@shaggycan]

This is the last of the 4 I have to read. This video claims its the best of them all....It's going to be hard to beat Three Kingdoms.

[@JakeWang-lt2fg]

This novel is far above the other three. Not that interesting, but deep in thoughts.

[@lanqing4137]

Three Kingdoms is about heroes, strategies and military events, while Dream of red chamber is about beauty, love , politics, philosophy and life. They are quite different, and both great. Hope you will enjoy those stories!

[@hefeibao]

And a year later, what do you think? My favorites in order were: 1. Dream of the Red Mansions 2. Romance of the Three Kingdoms 3. Outlaws of the Marsh 4. Journey to the West I read them in reverse, each seemed better than the one before it. Kinda worked out that way - not sure I'd have enjoyed the others had I read Dreams first.

[@bapyongukgukguk2352]

if this 18 century China why are they dressed as if it was set during Tang dynasty especially their hair and all that ? 🤔

[@user-ou7bu4md6d]

that's because this book does not clearly put forward the historical background of the story.It is generally believed that this book reflects the social life of the Qing Dynasty

[@bapyongukgukguk2352]

@@user-ou7bu4md6d Thank you very much

[@zhangcong1987827]

the dress style in the tv series belongs to Ming Dynasty,there was book censorship in Qing Dynasty,so writer can not say it's story of Qing dynasty,just say dosen't know when this story happened,this story just wrote on the big rock on the tall mountain by unknown writer.Don't know the time,don't know who wrote it.

[@bapyongukgukguk2352]

@@zhangcong1987827 Thank you