Most of famous traditional Chinese novels have the universal and unique artistic style, writing technique and artistic language, Honglou meng is one of the best novels that contain profound cultural connotation and ideological content. As well known, the original author Cao xue qing only wrote the first eighty chapters of this novel, but died before the completion of the last 40. The last 40 chapters of the novel are of questionable authenticity. It is been said that the other forty chapters were written by Gao E. It is not a completely and unified whole so that the literary qualities of first eighty chapters might be discussed more efficiently rather than the last forty chapters in this essay. In addition, Honglou meng's three most outstanding qualities as literature which is its netted form structure, the vivid characters in the novel and diversity of literature technique will be discussed in this essay.
Honglou meng is a book which consumed the whole life of Cao xue qing. It is believed that the novel is semi-autobiographical, mirroring the fortunes of Cao Xueqin's own family. It was intended to be a memorial to the women Cao knew in his youth: friends, relatives, and servants, as the author details in the first chapter. The novel itself is a detailed, episodic record of the lives of the extended Jia Clan, made up of two branches, the Ning-guo and Rong-guo houses, which occupies two large adjacent family compounds in the Qing capital, [Beijing]. Their ancestors were made Dukes, and at the novel's start the two houses were still one of the most illustrious families in the capital. It can be obviously seen that the subject content of this novel is not easy to understand but contains profound meanings. As Lu Xun said it will be had various understanding of Honglou meng by various persons¡¯ eyes. It is clear that the three most outstanding qualities as literature of Honglou meng which is the structure, the characters and the literature technique should not be ignored.
Firstly, the netted form structure of the novel is one of the most three outstanding qualities as literature for Honglou meng. The entire one hundred and twenty chapters have contained highly actualistic and tragic formation. The first half chapters draw a flourishing life style of Jia¡¯s family, whereas, the left half chapters depict a downfallen phase of this family. It is usually saying that the whole book is separated to four entities by the downfall of Jia¡¯s family.
Lee was able to depict such an arduous relationship between a father and son… a relationship that Lee says shall one day fail, but for now, it is pure and full of emotion. The love the father has for the child, for wanting to keep him by his side is one of true compassion. The complexity between the child being so delighted and displaying such admiration, of wanting his father to read him another bedtime story; to one of which, is screaming at his father for wanting to keep him as a child. This sort of relationship was able to be composed by the use of imagery between the father ageing and the scratching of his ear; to the use of the poems structure layout and point of view all played massive roles in the understanding and perception of this literary art work. Thus, the relationship between the father and son is one of compassion and affection; which, cannot be told using simple minded tactics such as logic and
The title of Ray Huang’s book 1587: A Year of No Significance: The Ming Dynasty Decline suggests that this book is a work based on a single year in which little occurred. But in reality, Huang’s look at the events of 1587 demonstrate the complex workings of the leadership during the decline of the Ming dynasty, giving the reader an insight into the societal structure, the governmental process, and the mistakes that occurred systematically to enhance the progression towards the seemingly inevitable downfall. Though nothing of historical significance occurred during the year 1587, Huang is able to demonstrate the way in which the existing culture and the smaller, more systematic elements of political leadership can be understood within the context of a seemingly unimportant period of time.
The novel is about two teenagers. "Luo, who is good a story telling and an unnamed narrator, "a fine violin player" who are sent to be re-educated after the Chinese cultural revolution. They are sent to a mountain called "Phoenix of the Sky because their parents were publicly denounced and recognized as enemies of people. The general idea behind the Cultural Revolution was element of control. And Mao thought that all intellectuals were a thread to his power. The reason for that was that most of the intellectuals had the ability to think for themselves. Mao foun...
Timothy Brook’s book, The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China is a detailed account of the three centuries of the Ming Dynasty in China. The book allows an opportunity to view this prominent time period of Chinese history. Confusions of Pleasure not only chronicles the economic development during the Ming dynasty, but also the resulting cultural and social changes that transform the gentry and merchant class. Brook’s insights highlight the divide between the Ming dynasty’s idealized beliefs, and the realities of its economic expansion and its effects. Brook describes this gap through the use of several first hand accounts of individuals with various social statuses.
...ate her experiences and values into the novel while writing it, exemplifying the characteristics of curiosity, independence and rebelliousness that she feels are important in the conformist society of China. Only through curiosity can people learn of the political oppression so craftily utilized by the government. The Chinese must show independence to stand out from the average citizen “being brainwashed” (Wang, Personal Interview) by nationalistic pride. These individuals must be rebellious, in order to join the revolution desperately needed to break through the masquerade the Chinese dictatorship hides behind; a revolution to fight for freedom and democracy. To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson`s ideals, being yourself means not conforming to a world filled with dictators, oppression and lies. These are the people who have achieved the greatest accomplishment.
How would it feel to be forced to spend an entire childhood as a prodigy by a parent? Or to lose one? In "Catch the Moon" and "Two Kinds," the main characters, Luis and Jing-Mei, deal with their losses through rebellion. In this essay, the characters and their rebellious actions in these stories have many similar qualities that will be compared and contrasted.
The family's personal encounters with the destructive nature of the traditional family have forced them to think in modern ways so they will not follow the same destructive path that they've seen so many before they get lost. In this new age struggle for happiness within the Kao family, a cultural barrier is constructed between the modern youth and the traditional adults, with Chueh-hsin teeter tottering on the edge, lost between them both. While the traditional family seems to be cracking and falling apart much like an iceberg in warm ocean waters, the bond between Chueh-min, Chueh-hui, Chin and their friends becomes as strong as the ocean itself. While traditional Confucianism plays a large role in the problems faced by the Kao family, it is the combination of both Confucianism and modernization that brings the family to its knees. Chueh-hsin is a huge factor in the novel for many reasons.
This story follows Wang Lang a poor young farmer in rural China that is forced by his father to marry a slave that belongs to the powerful local Hwang family. The Hwangs sell Wang a 20-year-old slave named O-lan who becomes his wife. O-lan and Wang Lung are pleased with each other, although they exchange few words and although Wang is initially disappointed that O-lan does not have bound feet. Together, Wang Lung and O-lan have a cultivate, beautiful and profitable harvest from their land. O-lan becomes pregnant, and Wang Lung is overjoyed when O-lan’s first child is a son. Meanwhile, the powerful Hwang family lives decadently the husband is obsessed with women, and the wife is an opium addict. Because of their costly habits, the Hwangs fall
In this story “Two kinds” by Amy Tan it shows the great expectations of a mother, who wishes for her child to be famous and a genius. The mother coming from a society that is very hard working and obedient trying to instill the upbringing she had I her life. The child Jing-mei is a typical example of a child rebelling against their mothers wishes no matter how hard the parental figure tries, the child wishes to perform things in their own way and use their own freewill and to do things in there own timely fashion.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a very complex book with many hidden and double meanings. The book is based on the Little Seamstress and how she reacts to many aspects of life. Although she was introduced later in the novel, she is one of the main characters. The purpose of the seamstress in the story is that she is the main reason why Luo and the narrator wake up in the morning. Almost everything they do revolves around her and Dai Sijie makes this very apparent throughout the novel.
At first, the anticipation of riches and fame propel Jing-Mei into cooperating with her mother, persuading Jing-Mei in the belief she can attain perfection. She imagines herself in several wonderful images, each colorful and immensely sati...
“If literature truly possesses a mysterious power, I think perhaps it is precisely this: that one can read a book by a writer of a different time, a different language, and a different culture and there encounter a sensation that is one’s very own” (Hua 61). This quote said by Yu Hua speaks volumes about his feelings for reading and writing. There were many times in the novel that he suddenly remembered a feeling by writing it. There were also times when the reader experienced an emotion that was completely his or her own by reading the words he put on paper. Hua presents the reader with several stories from his early childhood in which he learned to read and write. From an early age he learned that words have meaning and the power to change a person’s life, for better or for worse, and although he did not have the best conditions to become a writer growing up, he still managed to make a name for himself with what he was dealt in life. Although Yu Hua had limited literature to read, he still managed to fall in love with reading.
Lu Xun’s articles play an important role in modern Chinese Literature. Only by taking close reading, readers would be able to understand the deep meaning of his articles. “A Madman’s Diary” was the first vernacular fiction Lu Xun published, as well as the first Chinese vernacular story. The article includes preface and main body. The preface mainly uses classical Chinese to introduce background and cause of the story. The main body has thirteen pieces of Madman’s diary written in vernacular. The main character and the writer of diary both were “Madman”. Lu Xun used his poignant pen to reveal a variety of deep-seated social contradictions, also to dissect and deny the old Chinese system and concepts of stereotypes. He expressed a strong sense of urgency for national survival and a strong desire for social reform.
Mao’s Cultural Revolution was an attempt to create a new culture for China. Through education reforms and readjustments, Mao hoped to create a new generation of Chinese people - a generation of mindless Communists. By eliminating intellectuals via the Down to the Countryside movement, Mao hoped to eliminate elements of traditional Chinese culture and create a new form Chinese culture. He knew that dumbing down the masses would give him more power so his regime would be more stable. This dramatic reform affected youth especially as they were targeted by Mao’s propaganda and influence. Drawing from his experiences as an Educated Youth who was sent down to the countryside Down to the Countryside movement, Ah Cheng wrote The King of Children to show the effects of the Cultural Revolution on education, and how they affected the meaning people found in education. In The King of Children, it is shown that the Cultural Revolution destroyed the traditional incentives for pursuing an education, and instead people found moral and ethical meaning in pursuing an education.
Finally, Zhou Yu’s train is a story that demonstrates the new social changes in Chinese society which influenced the status of both poets and women. The story also represents Plato’s Dream theory by questioning constantly the existence of the love relationship between Zhou Yu and Chen Qing, which is on the verge between dream and reality. The movie is a sea of symbolism and metaphors which can cause a lack of understanding, but it is a wonderful depiction of modern Chinese society, which make us to question our own existence and relationships.