Studies on Red Chamber Dreams

It may be said that the research on Hong Lou Meng is the “eminent learning” in modern times. The schools of the study on Hong Lou Meng are numerous, to name the most important ones: ‘Ping Tian Pai’ (the school for exposing the obscures), ‘Kao Cheng Pai’ (the school for verifying the text), ‘Jeh Tuo Pai’ (the school for the ultimate freedom), ‘Tou Cheng Pai’ (the school of struggling), and the ‘Li Hsiang Pai’ (the school of the ideals). Moreover, some scholars’ research were aimed at the family and the biography of Tzao Shue-Chin (this branch of study was called “Tzao Shueih”—the study on Tzao), or to inspect mainly the editions of Hong Lou Meng, or to explore and discover the missing part of the latter 40 chapters of the novel (this branch of study was called ‘Tang I Shueih’—school of searching for what has being lost). The interest of research as such may also become an independent school of study.
This course will be held for two semesters; the topics that will be discussed during the first semester include: first, the name of Hong Lou Meng; second, the characteristics of Hong Lou Meng; third, the biography and dispositions of Tzao Shueih-Chin; fourth, editions of Hong Lou Meng; fifth, Hong Lou Meng's structure; sixth, characters of Hong Lou Meng. The focus of the second semester will be primarily on the introduction and discussion of Hong Studies, the discussion and introduction will include all the schools of Hong study as many as possible.
Grading and assignments: Students have to submit two written reports and to conduct oral presentations for each semester; the former part will take up 60% of the grading, and the latter part will take up 40% of the grading.