Dream of Red Mansions is a masterpiece that alludes to the rise and fall of large families and countries by depicting the rise and fall of small families. The work integrates complex plots such as power struggle, rebellion and betrayal, revelation, and usurpation, reflecting the complexity of human nature and the struggle between good and evil. These stories involve not only the emperors, but also the political struggles of the various dynasties in Chinese history, and are a wake-up call for both the ruled and the current regime.
The above describes the clues of the development of Dream of the Red Chamber, but the specific background of the dynasty and the historical state is not clearly explained. This has led many readers to wonder why Dream of the Red Chamber can't clearly mark the historical background and National Geographic like other classic literary worksThere are many different explanations for this, but one point worth paying attention to is that it is better not to write "Dream of Red Mansions" than to write it.
Compared with other classic works, such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin", "Journey to the West", etc., these works all reveal the historical truth and the fate of the characters to a certain extent. "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" reflects the political struggle in history by interpreting the merits and demerits of historical figures;"Water Margin" promotes the idea of loyalty to the monarch and serves as the mouthpiece of the imperial court;"Journey to the West" combines mythological stories with Buddhist and Taoist teachings. These works were all supported to varying degrees by the propaganda of the ruling class of the time.
However, "Dream of the Red Chamber" is very different from these works. The story it tells does not have a clear historical background and a specific place of time, on the contrary, it reflects the rise and fall of large families through the rise and fall of small families, and further alludes to the rise and fall of entire countries. The power struggles and political intrigues involved can be corresponded to by the imperial courts of the past dynasties, and will be equally applicable in the future. The power struggles, rebellions, and fratricidal conflicts involved in these stories make "Dream of Red Mansions" opposed by the rulers of the time in any historical period.
Dream of Red Mansions reveals the complex and best side of human nature by reflecting the rise and fall of power. This also makes readers more aware of the weaknesses and ** of human nature.
In Dream of Red Mansions, Shi said to the Kongdao people: "I only hope that when they are obsessed with pleasure and fall into sorrow, they can read this story, so as to save some energy and life." This sentence means that by showing people the rise and fall of the story of Jiafu, it can warn those who seek fame and fortune from another angle to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. This was a good thing for the rulers of the time, but it was also inevitable to "leak the heavens"* and never want the people to be too sober. In other words, it serves as a reminder to be wary of the insidious and pitfalls of power struggles, so as to avoid evil.
However, if every wealthy person learns to protect his own interests, he will not be able to find a handle to catch them, redistribute them, and prevent the concentration of power. If every ** understands that "accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger" and maintains his own sense of protection, then how can the emperor effectively control them?
In Dream of the Red Chamber, Cao Xueqin looks beyond a single historical period and political system, and profoundly reveals the impermanence of power struggles and individual fates through exquisite narratives and obscure plots. Through the rise and fall of small families, he shadows the rise and fall of a wider range of people, alerting people to beware of power struggles and weaknesses. Such depth and breadth are more powerful and universal than a specific historical period.
In real life, we can also learn from "Dream of Red Mansions". Power struggles and changes in personal destiny are common phenomena experienced by all periods and nations in the world, and "Dream of Red Mansions" makes us more aware of the complexity and impermanence of this world by revealing the truth and reasons behind it. We should continue to learn and improve ourselves, be vigilant against the right to Xi, and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Only in this way can we move towards a brighter and better future.