The Dream of the Red Chamber

spirituality - Chia Yü-ts'un, in the (windy and dusty)

designedly concealed the true circumstances, and borrowed the attributes of perception and spirituality to relate this story of the Record of the Stone. With this purpose, he m

e womankind of past ages. Passing one by one under a minute scrutiny, I felt that in action and in lore, one and all were far above me; that in spite of the majesty of my manliness, I could not, in point of f

el was rich and fine, and as what days my fare was savory and sumptuous, I disregarded the bounty of education and nurture of father and mother, and paid no heed to the virtue of precept and injunction of teachers and friends, with the result that I incurred the punishment, of failure recently in the least trifle, and th

moon, the willows by the steps and the flowers in the courtyard, methinks these would moisten to a greater degree my mortal pen with ink; but though I lack culture and erudition, what harm is there, however, in employing fiction and unrecondite language to give utterance to th

usage of such names as Chia Yü-ts'

visions; but these dreams constitute the main argument of this work, and

suggest whence t

of incoherency and triviality, but it p

ight, and twenty-four chang square. Of these stones, the Empress Wo only used 36,500; so that one single block remained over and above, without being turned to any account. This was cast down the Ch'ing Keng p

it alone had been destitute of the necessary properties and had been unfit to attain selection, it f

asy manner remarkable. When they drew near this Ch'ing Keng peak, they sat on the ground to rest, and began to converse. But on noticing the block newly-polished and brilliantly clear, which had

very one who shall see you may at once recognise you to be a remarkable thing. And subsequently, when you will be taken into a country where honour and affluence will reign, into a family c

tened with in

ist priest, K'ung K'ung by name, passed, during his researches after the eternal reason and his quest after immortality, by these Ta Huang Hills, Wu Ch'i cave and Ch'ing Keng Peak. Suddenly perceiving a large block of stone, on the surface of which the traces of characters giving, in a connected form, the various incidents of its fate, could be clearly deciphered, K'ung K'ung examined them from first to last. They, in fact, explained how that this block of worthless stone had originally been devoid of the properties essential for the rep

e also the followin

es meet the azur

al world full ma

after life the

tradition stran

ver these lines for a while, became aware

inion, they lack, in the first place, any data by means of which to establish the name of the Emperor and the year of his reign; and, in the second place, these constitute no record of any excellent policy, adopted by any high worthies or high loyal statesmen, in the government of the state, or in the rule of public mo

. They differ from the events inscribed on my block, which do not borrow this customary practice, but, being based on my own experiences and natural feelings, present, on the contrary, a novel and unique character. Besides, in the pages of these rustic histories, either the aspersions upon s

but a counterpart of each other. What is more, these works, throughout all their pages, cannot help bordering on extreme licence. The authors, however, had no other object in view than to give utterance to a few sentimental odes and elegant ballad

in my work, whom I have, during half my lifetime, seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. And though I will not presume to estimate them as superior to the heroes and heroines

hey may too evoke such laughter as to compel the rea

of prosperity and of adversity are all, in every detail, true to human nature, and I have not taken up

ght literature, and not only expunge the traces of antiquated books, and obtain a new kind of distraction, but that they may also lay by a long life as well as energy a

the general purport consisted of nought else than a treatise on love, and likewise of an accurate transcription of facts, without the least taint of proflig

changed the title of "the Memoir of a Stone" (Shih-t'ou-chi,) for that of "Ch'ing Tseng Lu," The Record of the Voluptuous Bonze; while K'ung Mei-chi of Tung Lu gave it the name of "Feng Yüeh Pao Chien," "The Precious Mirror of Voluptuousness." In later years, owing to the devotion by Tsao Hsüeh-ch'in in the Tao Hung study, of ten years to the perusal and revision of

l of sill

ndful sour

l the aut

zest who c

ot, as yet, aware what characters are depicted, and what circumstances are related on the surfac

ity); and in this lane stood an old temple, which on account of its diminutive dimensions, was called, by general consent, the Gourd temple. Next door to this temple lived the family of a district official, Chen by surname, Fei by name, and Shih-yin by style. His wife, née Feng, possessed a worthy and virtuous disposition, and had a clear perception of moral propriety and good conduct. This family, though not in actual possession of excessive aff

child, a daughter, whose infant name was Ying Lien. She was just three years of age. On a long summer day, on which the heat had been inte

t you have brought away?" he heard the Taoist inquire. To this question the Buddhist replied with a smile: "Set your mind at ease," he said; "there's now in maturity a plot of a general character involving mundane pleasures, which will presently come to a denouement. The whole number of the votaries of voluptuousness have, as yet, not been quickened or entered the world, and I mean to avail m

l) grass. At about the same time it was that the block of stone was, consequent upon its rejection by the goddess of works, also left to ramble and wander to its own gratification, and to roam about at pleasure to every and any place. One day it came within the precincts of t

h sweet dew. This purple pearl grass, at the outset, tarried for months and years; but being at a later period imbued with the essence and luxuriance of heaven and earth, and having incessantly receiv

it - when thirsty she drank the Kuan ch'ou (discharged sorrows,) water. Having, however, up to this time, not shewn her gratitude for the virtue of nurtur

lavished upon me to repay it! But should it ever descend into the world in the form of a human being, I will also betake myself thither, along

son pearl blade will also be among the number. The stone still lies in its original place, and why should not you and I take it along before the tribunal of the Monitory Vi

by means of tears! Why should not you and I avail ourselves of this opportunity to likewise go down into the wor

us deliver up this good-for-nothing object, and have done with it! And when the company of pleasure-bound spirits of wrath descend into human existence, y

acquiesced, "I am ready to follo

hanged the usual salutations. "My spiritual lords," Shih-yin continued; "I have just heard the conversation that passed between you, on causes and effects, a conversation the like of which few mortals have forsooth listened to; but your younger brother is sluggish of intellect, and cannot lucidly fathom the imp

heme and cannot be divulged before the proper season; but, when the time comes, mind

he however remarked smiling, "cannot, of course, be divulged; but what manner of thing, I wonder, is t

is intended, I may tell you, by fate to be just glanced at by you.

face were distinctly visible. The characters inscribed consisted of the four "T'ung Ling Pao Yü," "Precious Gem of Spiritual Perception." On the

lked away with the Taoist, under a lofty stone portal, on the face of which appeared in large type the four chara

s for truth, truth l

e to aught, aught c

o ruins, and the earth sunk into destruction. As Shih-yin uttered a loud shout, he looked with strained eye; but all he could see was the fiery sun shining, with glowi

ght gem, so precious, and so lovable. Forthwith stretching out his arms, he took her over, and, as he held her in his embrace, he coaxed her to

ddhist, coming hither from the opposite direction. The Buddhist had a head covered with ma

d along, chattering and l

and they perceived him with Ying Lien i

hy need you carry in your embrace this living but luckles

but persuaded that they amounted to raving

her to me," the Buddhi

daughter closer to him, he was intent upon going in, when the bonz

rance to the four

der daughter and are

w, oh mirror! for it

anterns is gone by, gu

ames will kindle, and

t remark,-"You and I cannot speed together; let us now part company, and each of us will be then able to go after his own business. After the lapse of three ages, I shall be at the

he conclusion of these words, the two men parted, each

had many experiences, and I ought really to have made more inquiries

of the youngest stock, and the possessions of his paternal and maternal ancestors were completely exhausted, and his parents and relatives were dead, he remained the sole and only survivor; and, as he found his residence in his native place of no avail, he therefore entered the capital in search of that reputation, which would enable him to put the family estate on

r," he observed with a forced smile; "how is it you are leaning against the door and l

out here to amuse her. I am just now without anything whatever to attend to, so that, dear brother Chia, you come just in the n

s'un, walked into the library, where a young page served tea. They had hardly exchanged a few sentences

lf in turning over the pages of some poetical work to dispel ennui, when suddenly he heard, outside the window, a woman's cough. Yü-ts'un hurriedly got up and looked out. He saw at a glance that it was a servant girl engaged in picking flowers. Her deportment was out of the common; her eyes so bright, her eyebrows so well defined. Though not a perfect beauty, she possessed nevertheless charms sufficient to arouse the feelings. Yü-ts'un unwittingly gazed at her with fixed eye. This waiting-maid, belong

rned away in a hurry

er time referred to by my master, and to whom he has repeatedly wished to give a helping hand, but has failed to find a favourable opportunity. And as related to our family there is no connexion or friend i

ht, she could not restrain herself fro

ly interpreted it as a sign that in her heart her thoughts

een-eyed and eminently shrewd, and one

found out from him that the guests in the front parlour had been detained to dinner, he could no

yin did not go back to rejoin Yü-ts'un, as h

banquet was over, had a separate table laid in the library, and crossed ove

at she was friendly disposed towards him, and incessantly fostered fond thoughts of her in his heart. And on this day, which happened to be the mid-au

divined my l

easeless come

d at heart, my

t her head to lo

ze, her shadow

moonlight night

ays if they my

ght upon her b

attainments had had an adverse fate and not met with an opportunity (of reaping distinction), went on to rub

cask a high p

case to take

, and upon hearing the lines, he said with a smile: "My dear

plied Shih-yin, "is the mid-autumn feast, generally known as the full-moon festival; and as I could not help thinking that living, as you my worthy brother are, as a mere stranger in this Buddhist temple, you could not but experience the feeling of loneliness. I have, for the express purpose, prepared a small entertainment, and will be please

hen, in company with Shih-yin, and came over once again into th

an early hour, and needless to say the

ly sipped their wine; but as, little by little, they entered into conversation, their good che

and singing. Above head, the orb of the radiant moon shone with an all-pervading splendour, and with a steady lustrous

ine, and the vehemence of his high spirits was irrepressible. As he gazed at the mo

ree meets five, S

the court, the ja

s her disk to vie

below to gaze men

ferior to any, and now the verses you have recited are a prognostic of your rapid advancement. Already it is evident that, before long, you will extend your

t in the examinations go, I could, perchance, also have well been able to enter the list, and to send in my name as a candidate; but I have, just now, no means whatever to make provision for l

t now, I lack, I admit, literary qualification, but on the two subjects of friendly spirit and pecuniary means, I have, nevertheless, some experience. Moreover, I rejoice that next year is just the season for the triennial examinations, and you should start for the capital with all despatch; and i

go and pack up at once fifty taels of pu

nd starting on your journey westwards. And when, by your eminent talents, you shall have soared high

of gratitude. In fact, he paid no thought whatever to the gifts,

parted company; and Shih-yin, after seeing Yü-ts'un off, retired to his room and sl

orary home. He accordingly despatched a servant to ask him to come round, but the man returned and reported that from what the bonze said, "Mr. Chia had started on his journey to the capital, at the fifth watch of that very morning, that he had also left a messag

ge had no alternative but to bani

ar also the happy festival of the 15th of the 1st moon, and Shih-yin told a serv

her up, but failed to find anywhere any trace of Ying Lien. In a terrible plight, Huo Ch'i prosecuted his search throughout half the night; but even by the dawn of day, he ha

ole night, readily concluded that some mishap must have befallen her. Hastily they despatched several servant

t her sudden disappearance plunged them in such great distress that day and night t

, likewise, by dint of fretting for her daughter, was also prostrated with sickness. Th

ere being prepared in the Hu Lu temple, a pan with oil would have caught fire, through the want of care on t

partitions were in general use, and these too proved a sourc

until the whole street was in a blaze, resembling the flames of a volcano. Though both the military and the people at once ran to the res

s. Anyhow, pitiful to relate, the Chen house, situated as it was next door to the temple, was, at an early part of the evening, reduced

appened that water had of late years been scarce, and no crops been reaped, robbers and thieves had sprung up like bees, and though the Government troops were bent upon their capture, it was anyhow difficult to settle down

rable displeasure. Fortunately Shih-yin had still in his possession the money derived from the unprofitable realization of his property, so that he produced and handed it to his father-in-law, commissioning him to purchase, whenever a suitable opport

matters connected with business and with sowing and reaping, subsisted, by h

rs, and behind his back, he on the contrary expressed his indignation against his improvi

s, the fright and vexation which he had undergone the year before, the anguish and suffering (he had had to endure), had already worked havoc (on his constitu

a little relaxation, he suddenly caught sight, approaching from the off side, of a Taoist priest with a crippled foot; his

tual life kno

isregard they

ow the statesme

graves, a heap o

tual life kno

gold, silver

grudge their hoa

has come, thei

tual life hol

ives, maids, th

teful love while

r lord, anoth

tual life kno

andsons to forg

now of paren

s and grandson

est, "What were you so glibly holding forth?" he inquired. "A

that all things in this world are excellent, when they have attained finality; when they have attained finality, they are excellent; but when they have n

cacity that enabled him, as soon as he he

lingly; "let me unravel this excellen

terpretation," urged the Taoist; where

ms and vac

one by with beds w

and withered

re halls for

the carved pil

w is also pasted o

c fresh concocted or t

on each temple become

of yellow earth buri

red silk curtain

coffers, silver

, the beggars wi

that the life of o

ou yourself are a

our sons with

day, 'tis hard to

(your fare and hom

y, fall into some p

slike of the ga

to be locked

low, you felt cold

the purple embroid

de! you have just sung your

u recognise another

ter per

to this we make wedd

or others

r interpretation is explicit," he remarked with

from the Taoist's shoulder, he flung it over his own. He did not, however,

nd plunged the whole neighbourhood in commotion; and converte

e inquiries. No news was however received of him, and she had nothing else to do but to practise resignation, and to remain dependent upon the support of her parents for her subsistence. She had fortunately still by her side

is daily murmurings against his bad luck,

thread, and while there, she of a sudden heard in the street shouts of runners clearing

licemen go by two by two; and when unexpectedly in a state chair, was carried

ar," she argued within herself; "just as if

ht, however, while she was waiting to go to bed, she suddenly heard a sound like a rap at the door. A band of men boisterously

into such a terrible consternation that

ascertained, but, reader, listen to the