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New Manuscript of Monumental Novel Found
Experts have confirmed after a thorough examination that manuscripts preserved by a Beijing-based university library is a different hand-written copy of the masterpiece "A Dream of Red Mansions."
The 16-volume copy, held by library of Beijing Normal University, was purchased in 1957 from a bookstore and registered in the library catalog in 1961.
The discovery is considered of crucial importance to development of redology, a unique branch of learning in modern Chinese literature history.
The term "Redology" first appeared in the Qing dynasty (1644-- 1911) after Cao's novel began to circulate in the form of hand- made copies.
Acknowledged as one of four ancient Chinese classics, A Dream of Red Mansions mainly tells the story of a love relationship between Jia Baoyu and his cousin Lin Daiyu within a social context.
Redology features academic studies on China's 18th century classic of literature-- A Dream of Red Mansions and on the life and time of Cao Xueqin (1715--1764), author of the great novel.
The copy is with critical notes in black and red ink of Zhi Yan Zhai, believed as a tittle of a certain mysterious figure related to the author of the novel.
Experts said this copy resembles the one kept in Beijing University but has less written mistakes and more reasonable amendments, therefore it is more flawless and worthy of research work and theoretical study.
There are only 11 hand-written copies of that similar kind before this newly found one, said the experts.
Study into Cao Xueqin and his novel has attracted the most talented Chinese and overseas scholars during the past 200 years.
Historical materials indicate that Cao Xueqin lived his last years at a small village at the foot of the Fragrance Hill in the west suburb of Beijing, which now has become an attraction for Redologists.
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