The Research Of Hui Fang Lu As A Pastiche Of The Dream Of Red Mansions

Hui Fang Lu is a representative courtesan novel in the late Qing Dynasty,as well as a representative pastiche of the Dream of Red Mansions.This article makes a special study of Hui Fang Lu mainly from four aspects.Firstly,from the argument that Hui Fang Lu is unanimously agreed upon as an imitation of the Dream of Red Mansions in the academia,the concept of pastiche is defined.At the same time,based on former research materials over the years,appraisals,additions and deletions are made to summarize and classify the pastiche novels into 27 kinds.Secondly,this article explores the author,version and the reason for writing the book of Hui Fang Lu.On the basis of former research of the author of Hui Fang Lu,this article concludes that,as supplementary materials,the author of Hui Fang Lu was named Xiling Yeqiao and styled himself “Zhuqiushi”.His native place was Shangyu and after 1851,he made Yangzhou his home and served as an aide to the ranking officials mainly during the periods of Daoguang,Xianfeng,Tongzhi and Guangxu.He also made a minor achievement in the Taiping rebellion.This article then combs out the version of Hui Fang Lu in detail and analyzes the reason for writing Hui Fang Lu from the internal and external factors.Thirdly,from the aspects of characterization,plot structure,environmental description and chapter titles,this article explicitly analyzes Hui Fang Lu‘s imitation and reference to the Dream of Red Mansions,thereby affirming the author's ability of imitation and excellent skill in choosing materials from the original work.Finally,this article argues that,as one among the many imitations of the Dream of Red Mansions,Hui Fang Lu is a typical pastiche for its motif of “punishing vice andpraising virtue”,comprehensive presentation of the era from all aspects,including reflection of “the examination fraud of 1858 in Xianfeng Period”,as well as confirmation of the awakening consciousness of women.