Redology Explained

Redology is the academic study of Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber,^[1] one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China. There are numerous researchers in this field; most can be divided into four general groups: the first group are the commentators, such as Zhou Chun, Xu Fengyi, Chen Yupi, and others; the second group is the index group, which includes Wang Mengruan and Cai Yuanpei; the third group are the textual critics, including Hu Shih and Yu Pingbo; the final group are the literary critics, including Zhou Ruchang and Li Xifan.

History

A 1976 essay by Joey Bonner split the Chinese critical reception of the novel into five phases:^[2]

Pre-1791: Commentators on the pre-publication manuscripts, such as Rouge Inkstone and Odd Tablet, who mainly provide literary analysis of the first 80 chapters.

1791–1900: Post-publication questions over authorship of the addendum, speculation upon esoteric aspects of the book. After 1875 using the term "Redology" for the studies.

1900–1922: Political interpretations.

1922–1953: "New Redology" led by Hu Shih, approach questions of textual authenticity, documentation, dating, and a strong autobiographical focus. The labelling of previous periods as "Old Redology".

1954–current [1975]: Marxist literary criticism, the book seen as a criticism of society's failures. Li Xifan's criticism of both Old Redology and Neo-Redologists such as Hu Shih and Yu Pingbo.

Academic research institutes

There are many Redology academic institutions, especially university affiliated ones:

• The Society of the Dream of the Red Chamber (中国红楼梦学会) in Beijing
• The Cao Xueqin Society of Beijing (北京曹雪芹学会) in Beijing
• The Cao Xueqin Center for Aesthetics and Art (北京大学曹雪芹美学艺术研究中心) at Peking University, Beijing
• The Weiming Society for Hongloumeng Studies at Peking University, Beijing
• International Research Center of the Dream of the Red Chamber (RDRC), National Dong Hwa University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Taiwan^[3]
• Dream of the Red Chamber Research Centre, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Further reading

• Zhou Ruchang. Between Noble and Humble: Cao Xueqin and the Dream of the Red Chamber, edited by Ronald R Gray and Mark S. Ferrara. New York:Peter Lang, 2009

External links

• Redology: the study of a classic Chinese masterpiece by Joyce Cheng, GB Times, July 24, 2013

Notes and References

1. [Jonathan Spence]
2. Book: The Chinese Classic Novels (Routledge Revivals): An Annotated Bibliography of Chiefly English-Language Studies. 9781136836589. Berry. Margaret. 18 October 2010.
3. Web site: 國際紅學研究中心 - 國立東華大學 . 2024-03-23 . rdrc.ndhu.edu.tw.