Li Wan’s story

Li Wan is Jia Zhu’s wife. Although Zhu died young, he survived by one son, named Jia Lan, who is now five years old and has entered school to study books. This Li family is also the daughter of a famous eunuch in Jinling. Her father's name is Li Shouzhong. She once served as a wine sacrifice to the Imperial Academy. There are both men and women in the family who recite poems and read. Since Li Shouzhong took over, he has said that "a woman has virtue without talent." Therefore, when Li was born, she was not asked to study very much. She only read some "Four Books on Women", "Biography of Lienu", and "Collection of Xian Yuan". Waiting for three or four kinds of books, he could recognize a few characters and just remember these virtuous women from the previous dynasty. However, he only focused on spinning wells and mortars, so he was named Li Wan, whose surname was Gong. cut. Therefore, although Li Wan was widowed in his youth, his home was surrounded by flowers and flowers, and he was like a dead tree. He was completely unknown and unknown.

She lived in the "Daoxiang Village" in the Grand View Garden. The book describes it as "a hut with several couplets" and "two green fences" outside. "Wuji" is like a farmhouse scenery of "bamboo fence and thatched cottage". This residence is very consistent with the owner's temperament of being ascetic and lonely. Later, when he formed a cooperative in Tanchun, Li Wan gave himself the nickname "Daoxiang Old Farmer". The author describes the character of Li Wan with sympathy and praise. Her image is not only a good wife and mother, but also a typical victim of the "three obediences and four virtues" of feudal society.

Part 10 of the official book

Painting: A pot of orchids, next to a beautiful woman with a phoenix crown and a garland of flowers.

When the spring breeze of peaches and plums bears fruit, who will be like a pot of orchid in the end? Like ice water, it is empty and jealous, and it is useless to joke with others.

[Note]

This poem is about Li Wan.

1. "Peach and Plum" sentence - This is a metaphor for Li Wan who was widowed early. Not long after she gave birth to Jia Lan, her husband Jia Zhu died, so her short married life was like a spring breeze. Just like peach and plum blossoms, once they bear fruit, the scenery is over. This sentence also hides her name. "Taoli" hides the word "李", and "Wan" and "Wan" are homophonic.

2. The sentence "to the end" - refers to Jialan. Later, all the descendants of the Jia family died. Only Jia Lan was "high-ranking", and the mother became noble because of it. The scene in the painting approves this.

3. Two sentences of "like ice" - it means that Li Wan adheres to feudal ethics and has a character as pure as ice and water, but she is not worthy of envy. Like her, who was widowed in her early years and worried about her son all her life. By the time his son Rongda thought he would enjoy a good old age, he was already "miserable and the road to hell was near". In the end, he was just the fodder for others to talk and laugh.

A Dream of Red Mansions

Late Shaohua

The kindness in the mirror is even more worthy of the fame in the dream! That beautiful time has passed so quickly. I will never mention the embroidered tent or mandarin duck quilt again. Wearing a crown of pearls and a phoenix coat is not enough to withstand the impermanence of life. Although it is true, you should not suffer from old age and poverty in life, but you also need to accumulate children and grandchildren. He is high-spirited, wearing a hairpin on his head, shining brightly, with a golden seal hanging on his chest, he is majestic and has a high rank and rank, - he is miserable and miserable, the road to hell is near! I asked whether the ancient generals still exist? It's just a false name that will be admired and respected by future generations.

[Explanation]

This piece of music was written by Li Wan. The title of the song "Late Shaohua" literally means prosperity in old age, but its true meaning is that it is too late for good times to come.

[Notes]

1. Two sentences of "In the Mirror" - The husband died early, and the love between husband and wife has become empty. Who expected his son's fame and his own glory? It is also as illusory as a dream.

2. Shaohua - here it refers to youth, which is different from the glory and wealth in the title of the song.

3. Embroidered account and mandarin duck quilt - refers to the life of husband and wife.

4. The three sentences "Only wearing a beaded crown" - means that when Li Wan can enjoy glory, his death is approaching, which is not worth the loss. Only, even, even if. Pearl crowns and phoenix coats are the costumes of noble ladies who have been honored by the imperial court. This refers to the fact that Li Wan got the title because Jia Lan became an official when he grew up.

5. Yin Zhi - the so-called "Yin Gong" in Qianqu refers to the secret virtue in people. Accumulating children and grandchildren means accumulating virtue for the children and grandchildren.

6. Hairpin - the crown ornament of nobles in ancient times. The hairpin is jewelry and the tassel is hatband.

7. Gold seal - also worn by noble people. "Jin Shu·Queen's Annals": "Only the queen is a noble person, with a gold seal and a purple ribbon."

8. "Asking about the past" two sentences - saying that Li Wan did not need to "hope for his son to become a dragon".

[Appreciation]

In many important events in the novel, Li Wan was present, but she could only play the role of "beating the drum" and left nothing special to the readers. impression. This may be in line with her status and ideological character - the eldest sister-in-law of Rongguo Mansion, a widow who abides by feudal etiquette and keeps aloof from the world. She has always been content and obedient and unwilling to get involved in the vortex of conflicts and struggles.

The author gave an introduction to her at the beginning of the fourth chapter. Except that the ending is not mentioned, that paragraph can be used as a short biography of her: "This Li family is also a famous eunuch in Jinling. His daughter, whose father's name is Li Shouzhong, once served as a wine sacrifice to the Imperial Academy. All men and women in the clan were reciters and readers. Since Li Shouzhong took over, he has said that "women have virtues without talent", so when Li was born, she was not very famous. His reading only included three or four kinds of books such as "Four Books on Women", "Biographies of Women", and "Collections of Xian Yuan", so that he could recognize a few words and remember these virtuous women in the previous dynasty, but he only focused on spinning. Jingjiu was the important one, so he was named Li Wan, whose courtesy name was Gongcai. Therefore, although Li Wan was widowed in his youth, his home was as ashes as a dead tree among the beautiful things. He only knew how to serve his parents and his adopted son. I just accompany my sister-in-law to recite it."

This is a typical example of a virtuous and chaste woman in feudal society, the embodiment of the "three obediences and four virtues". The defenders of the Qing Dynasty advocated Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and were particularly vigorous in promoting women's chastity and integrity, and the pain suffered by women from the oppression of the "four ropes" of feudalism was even more profound. In the eyes of the rulers, people like Li Wan were fully qualified to receive honorary titles, erect memorial arches, and be included in the "Biography of Martyrs". Although her "impermanent life" did not give her more opportunities to enjoy her late life (Li Wan was not much older than her sisters, and there may be a specific plot in the manuscript of her death, but it is difficult to find out), after all, she died at the end of her life. I have received the wealth and glory of "Fengguanxiapei" before, which can be used as a clear proof that those who are selfless in nature and endure hardships throughout their lives and are chaste and self-reliant will be rewarded with good things. However, Cao Xueqin chose to put her in the "Unlucky Division" book, saying that all this was just "a joke with others in vain". "To end, it seems that Li Wan should not be among the "unlucky people"), this is really a bold challenge to the traditional Confucian concepts, and it is the brilliance of democratic ideas revealed from the darkness of the feudal kingdom.

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