Post by Isaac Ho, the Admin on Jun 21, 2016 7:34:33 GMT -5
HUNG LOU MONG - A FAMOUS CHINESE CLASSIC NOVEL
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by Isaac Ho, the Admin & Founder of this Forum
Hi folks;
There are several well-known Chinese Classic Novels (Chong Kok Ku Dien Siu Shuet), and the Hung Lou Mong or Dream of the
Red Chamber is among the best story ever written by a Chinese novelist in China during the Manchu or Ching Dynasty (1644-1912).
Thus, Dream of the Red Chamber was first circulated throughout China in 1792 by Ts'ao Hsueh Chin.
The Hung Lou Mong is a very complex novel based on the aristocratic Chia clan which, like the Ts'ao family had enjoyed imperial
favour for generations. Its two main branches dwell in adjoining compounds in the capital Ningkuofu and Jungkuofu.
The nominal head of the Ningkuofu is a selfish student of Taoist alchemy who eventually dies its victim, his sons Chia Chen and
grandson Chia Yung are both sensualists. The story is of love, betryals and rivalry among the rich family of Chia during the Chin
Dynasty. This famous Chinese novel is based 120 chapters and the book is ably translated or rendered into English in three
volumes by Gladys Yang and Yang Hsien Yi at the Beijing's Foreign Language Press.
The translation by these two talented and skilled translator are indeed unsurpassed to this day, although the Hung Lou Mong
also called the Story of Stone, has been translated into Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese since the last thirty years.
Reportedly, the late Pearl S. Buck was extremely fond of reading the Hung Lou Mong in her leisure and her love stories about
China was based on the Hung Lou Mong the famous Chinese classic.
Additional, there are also other Chinese classic novels like - Shi Hu Chuan or Outlaws of the Marshes (well translated by Pearl
S. Buck as All Men are Brothers). The San Kuo or Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The Golden Lotus or Chin Ping Mei - another
famous love romance. The Monkey or Sai Yue Kee and last but not the least The Scholars or Yu Lum Ngoi See which is ably
rendered into English by Gladys Yang and Yang Hsien Yi.
usa.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-06/content_25790-410_7.htm