About The Ideological And Artistic Value Of The Three Criticism Of "A Dream Of Red Mansions"

The three criticism of "A Dream of Red Mansions" which is about the critics of the80chapters written by Cao Xueqin and the additional40chapters written by Gao E and ChengWeiyuan is commented by Wang Xilian, Yao Xie and Zhang Xinzhi through the forms ofcircles or dots, notes at the top of a page, interlinear notes and comments. The three criticismof "A Dream of Red Mansions" is the largest book among the old redology books which iswidely spread and deeply influenced, but no enough attention to be paid. Based on the threecriticism of "A Dream of Red Mansions", combined with the life and thought of the critics,referred to the predecessors’ comments and researches, this paper comprehensively analysesand discusses the three criticism of "A Dream of Red Mansions" through theme, language,plot, structure, characters and the role the three criticism played in the redology.Compared with Yao Xie, there is less information about Wang Xilian and Zhang Xinzhi.Liberally educated and talented, Wang Xilian is deeply fond of history and has honesthistorical view and value, which influences his point of view on the "A Dream of RedMansions". Yao Xie is born poor, widely read, fruitfully wrote and official career frustratedand enraged in comment. Traveled through his life, Zhang Xinzhi is very unleashed anddeeply loved the "A Dream of Red Mansions". He gets a wide range of comments. There aremany kinds of the three criticisms and this paper refers to the version of Guangxu15years.Just like the history, Wang Xilian considers the novel has the same function inadvocating the Confucian doctrine."A Dream of Red Mansions" is just a form ofindoctrination, guiding people to abide by the traditional concept and moral. In addition, hethinks the focus of the book is describing the rise and fall of JiaFu with sighs. Zhang Xinzhialso thinks the book elaborates the Confucian doctrine and guides people to abide by theindoctrination and meanwhile the book implied the truth of “Zhouyi”. Yao thinks the wholebook is full of imaginary and makes people disillusioned.Wang regards the fifth chapter as the core of the book, which is the heart guiding thewhole book. The whole book can be separated into21chapters according to the rise and fall of JiaFu, and this structure separation is the first time in redology research history. At thesame time, he thinks the various plots adapted from the real people and thing serves thecharacters. Wang, Yao and Zhang.Wang Xilian was aware of the obvious importance of the languages on the characters’distinct in the book. He commented on the characters from four aspects which were fortune,life, talent and morality traditionally. Also he commented by comparison between twocharacters. He was aware that the author hided the important clues and secrets. Zhang Xinzhiwas more reserved than Wang. He focused feudal morality and women’s virtuousness. He aswell paid attention to the “shadow body” of leading roles in the book. Yao noticed that theforming and the changing of characters’ distinct was deeply influenced by the surroundings.All of them noticed that the author was good at using names of the characters and the thingsto imply other meanings. Meanwhile, the comments of them all showed their likes anddislikes about the characters.It initiated the redology statistics, which analyzed constructional for the first time andinspired the start and development of the reference group.