《紅樓夢》與《桃花扇》的關係研究：也談《紅樓夢》創作於康熙末年說

On the Relationship between The Dream of the Red Chamber and The Peach Blossom Fan: A Proposal that the Dream Was Written in the Later Years of Kangxi's Reign

紀永貴(Ji Yonggui)

《中國文化研究所學報》 45期 (2005/01) Pp. 279-297

https://doi.org/10.29708/JCS.CUHK.200501_(45).0012

並列摘要

The Dream of the Red Chamber has a close relationship with dramas. In this novel forty different dramas of the Ming and Qing are mentioned except The Peach Blossom Fan, a work which caused a great sensation in the later years of the Kangxi reign. According to studies on Cao Xueqin, the author lived in the reign of Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong (1715/1724-1763/1764); he was a contemporary of the author of The Peach Blossom Fan, and the theme and other aspects of the Dream also correspond with those of the latter. Therefore, Cao should have mentioned this drama in his novel. Scholars have sought to resolve the enigma of this absence of reference to two theories: first, Cao wished to ＂honour the family tradition＂ which shunned the staging of the drama in the family's estate, and second, he sought to ＂avoid the political fallout＂ because the Fan had been implicated for its anti-Manchu innuendo. But these are not solid arguments. The only valid explanation on this issue seems to be that The Peach Blossom Fan had not appeared or had not enjoyed much publicity when Cao Xueqin produced his masterpiece in the later years of the Kangxi reign. On a related issue, Cao was not necessarily a member of Cao Yin's family, and this can explain the many incongruities found in the novel when we attempt to make a connection with the latter. In many ways, a content analysis of The Dream of the Red Chamber in reference to The Peach Blossom Fan appears to be an inappropriate research project.