Rare Chance to Learn About China's Greatest Novel

Beijing-based Chinaphiles, including expatriates, are in for a rare literary treat on March 23--the chance to listen to a famous scholar's insightful lecture on the 18th-century Chinese classic Dreams of Red Mansion. Many foreigners are aware of the masterpiece, but few can properly understand it, even in English translations, because it is larded with obscure poetry, ancient puns and metaphors. Chinese literary critics say it is more biographical than fictional, and far more than just the basically romantic story of a love triangle that is widely assumed. It was once described as the ultimate encyclopedia of Chinese people and their culture.

This month's lecture, arranged by the Chinese Culture Club, will be given by Zhou Ruchang, 84, China's most renowned living scholar on the 400,000-word tale, which he has researched virtually fulltime for some 50 years. His agreement to undertake the lecture, and afterwards discuss the book with his audience, is a major coup for the club because Zhou is almost deaf and virtually blind. He has given few lectures in his life, and rarely submitted to media interviews.

Such is his obsession with Dreams of Red Mansion that he still daily continues to research and transcribe sections of the book. Because of his infirmities, he will be assisted by translators in English and Chinese at the lecture. His last appearance on a podium was in 1993, when he addressed foreign embassy staff.

Meanwhile, Zhou told Beijing This Month: "The easiest, most straightforward and fun way to learn about and understand Chinese people and their culture is to read Hong Lou Meng [the book's Chinese title]. This applies both to Chinese and foreigners because they can not possibly learn about China from obscure works and records dating back thousands of years."

Zhou says he greatly regrets that the book has never been satisfactorily translated into English. In his view, such attempts as have been made do less than justice to what is acknowledged as the greatest novel in Chinese history. In the 1950s he published his own book about the novel, though in Chinese because, in 1949, use of English had been banned because it was an "enemy" language. Later he produced a large-print version for the elderly and people with sight impairments. He himself has lost the sight of one eye, though the other was saved by doctors at Beijing Hospital. Even so, aided by a magnifying glass, he can now only read larger characters.

"These days he talks little, except about the novel," said Zhou's wife. One of the couple's daughters, Zhou Lunli, diligently makes copies of all his scribbled notes, which only she can decipher. "He just writes down things that suddenly come to his mind," she said.

Zhou was born in 1918 at Xianshuigu, a suburb of Tianjin. As early as middle school he busied himself in translating the works and prose of renowned authoress Bing Xin. Later he concentrated on learning English, the better to follow his role model Lin Yutang, a well-known author and leading translator of western literature. Zhou's introduction to Dreams of Red Mansion was early in his childhood when an uncle gave him a hardback version of the classic.

What theme will Zhou adopt at this month's lecture? Only he knows, but it is known that, to him, Dreams of Red Mansion essentially chronicles the fortunes, joys and sorrows of a group of talented Chinese women. Jia Baoyu, the fictional male hero, embodies the qualities of intelligence, wisdom and ling especially--a word whose precise Chinese meaning (soul and spirit) cannot accurately be conveyed in English, according to Zhou. In essence, he added, Jia man represents China in the fullest sense.

The lecture, from 2-4pm on Saturday, March 23, will be at Cha Jia Fu Teahouse, which is close to Kongyiji Restaurant in Houhai (opposite Madam Songqingling's Residence on the South side of the lake). Admission is free.