Dream Revisited in the Splendid Pavilion (Part Three)

兰皋主人Jun 2024

2.2

Word count: 55K words
Chapters: 13

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Summary

Qilou Chongmeng (Volume Three)

Editor's review

This is the final volume of the three-volume Qilou Chongmeng, continuing from the preceding text to close out Xiaoyu's arc from decline to rise, from general to minister, and settling on the reincarnation romance and the lament of beauty turned to dust. As a sequel to Dream of the Red Chamber, its value lies not in imitating Cao Xueqin's style but in showing how Qing-dynasty readers reimagined Baoyu: having the office-despising Baoyu reincarnate as the office-seeking Xiaoyu, inverting the values of father and son across two generations, which reads with a distinct ironic charm. The female figures Danru, Ruixiang, and Yuqing, set against characters from Jin Ping Mei, also offer an entry point for comparative reading. Readers are advised to treat it as sequel literature rather than a substitute for Dream of the Red Chamber, attending to the author's wish-fulfillment mentality of "from decline to rise" and the period features of its erotic narrative; it suits extended study after finishing the original.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who have read Dream of the Red Chamber and are interested in the sequel phenomenon
Literature students studying Qing-dynasty novel sequels and reception history
Readers who enjoy comparing the generational value differences between Baoyu and Xiaoyu
Readers seeking to examine erotic narrative in classical fiction

Not a good fit for

General readers hoping for literary quality equal to the original
Readers who have not read Dream of the Red Chamber and want to start with this book
Readers uninterested in reincarnation and wish-fulfillment plots

Reading tips

Finish the first eighty chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber first, then read this book's ending to understand the sequel's wish-fulfillment logic
While reading, note the contrast between Xiaoyu and Baoyu in their attitudes toward officialdom and keep a character-comparison log
Read alongside the relevant characters of Jin Ping Mei to appreciate the author's intent in allusive portrayals
Place this book within the lineage of Qing-dynasty sequels rather than simply judging it by the original's standards

版权信息
第二十五回待年册立居私邸衣锦荣旋宴画堂
第二十六回分院宇点景铺陈派丫头更名服役
第二十七回甄小翠避妖来贾府叶琼蕤逃难入王园
第二十八回逗春情淡如入学膺赦诏蓉儿还乡
第二十九回彩笺结社画册题诗
第三十回会同年花园玩景乘良夜雪阁开樽
第三十一回赏春灯凭肩献媚窃香履度足调情
第三十二回老尼携徒弟募化倭王率妻子来朝
第三十三回琼蕤赠一股金钗岫烟送两丸丹药
第三十四回香雪秘传妙术传灯别倡宗风
第三十五回留香居重来住客中元节追荐情人
第三十六回钟情人幽怀沉结无耻女使酒猖狂

FAQ

Can I read this sequel without having read Dream of the Red Chamber?

You can follow the plot, but your understanding will be diminished. The characters correspond to the original through reincarnation—Xiaoyu to Baoyu, Daiyu reincarnated as Xiangyun's daughter—and without familiarity with the original it is hard to grasp the author's wish-fulfillment intent and irony. It is best to know the original's main character relationships first.

Do I need to read the first two volumes before this third one?

Reading in order is recommended. This volume continues from the preceding text to close out the characters' fates and the romantic ending; the relationships and plot threads are developed in the first two volumes, so starting here may make the backgrounds of Danru, Ruixiang, Yuqing, and others feel abrupt.

What kind of readers is the erotic content suited to?

The relevant passages carry the period features of Ming-Qing fiction and involve one man's relationships with several women; they are best viewed as documentary material. Readers interested in erotic narrative in ancient fiction may find it a subject for analysis, but readers expecting a pure love story may be disappointed.

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About the author

兰皋主人 Author

Lan Gao Zhuren ("Master of the Orchid Bank") is one of the Qing-dynasty authors of sequels to Dream of the Red Chamber; his real name, native place, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded, and publicly available information is very limited. Judging from the style of the signature, it was a literati pen name, reflecting the traditional scholar's preference for being known by a studio or hall name. Seven works bearing this name survive, all connected with Qi Lou Chong Meng (Repeats of Dreams in a Fine Tower), including volume and serial editions of different versions, which shows that his writing was concentrated in the field of novel sequels. The book continues the plot of Cao Xueqin's original, portraying the fates of the characters in the Grand View Garden, and belongs to the sequel tradition in classical literature. Its language shows literati vernacular features, with the narrative unfolding between domestic daily life and emotional entanglements; it is classified under classical literature, folk literature, and literary appreciation, offering readers a concrete example for understanding the dissemination and reception history of Dream of the Red Chamber.