In the first chapter of the Jiaxu version of the Zhi Ping, there are two comments that are quite similar to "last words" written on
In the first chapter of the Jiaxu version of the Zhi Ping, there are two comments that are quite similar to "last words" written on the brow of the poem titled "The author is crazy, who can understand the meaning" written by the author. :
"Those who can understand it will have the bitter tears to write this book. On Renwu New Year's Eve, before the book was completed, Qin passed away because the tears were exhausted. I have tried to cry Qin, but my tears are also waiting to be exhausted. Every intention is found Qinggeng Peak asked Brother Shi again, "Why don't you meet the monk with a head?"
"From now on, I only hope that the Lord of Creation will come out again. What a blessing. The other two will also be happy." Yu Jiuquan! "Jiawu August Tears!" From these two comments, it can be seen that Zhi Yan and Xue Qin are husband and wife. Because these two comments are obviously the tone of the widow. According to the poems of Duncheng and Dunmin, we know that Cao Xueqin had a widow after his death. The author believes that this widow was Zhi Yanzhai!
In these two comments, Zhi Yanzhai specified that Cao Xueqin died on New Year's Eve in Renwu (1763). According to the "Cao Xueqin Tomb Stone" unearthed in Zhangjiawan, there is indeed a date of "Renwu"①. This shows that Zhi Yanzhai's comments are reliable and correct. From this comment, we can know that Zhi Yan was still alive in the Jiawu Year (1774, the 39th year of Qianlong), but he was already in his dying years. From this comment, we can also see that Zhi Yan and Cao Xueqin had a deep relationship. After Cao Gong passed away, Zhi Yan did not stop commenting on the Dream of Red Mansions. She expressed her memory of Cao Xueqin by constantly commenting on the Dream of Red Mansions. The so-called "I still cry for tears, but my tears are still waiting to be exhausted" is exactly the tragic portrayal of Zhi Yan after the death of Cao Gong.
There are many examples of Zhi Yan being a woman and having a husband-and-wife relationship with Cao Xueqin in Zhi Biao. For example: There is an eyebrow comment in Gengchen's notebook: "Sister Feng ordered the drama, and Zhi Yan wrote the work. Only few people know about it now. (Rather) I'm not sad!" This comment not only shows that Zhi Yan is indeed a woman, but also proves that Zhi Yan is indeed a woman. Zhi Yan once lived in the Grand View Garden. It is worth noting that the second chapter of the Jiaxu version writes about Jia Yucun visiting Stone City and looking at the Jia Mansion from the outside. When the author wrote "it is the garden in the back area", there was a question and answer comment. Question: Why not just use the word "西" for the word "hou"? Answer: "I am afraid that Mr. Xi will shed tears, so I dare not use the word "西". The questioner is obviously the critic Zhi Yan, and the answerer is obviously the writer Cao Xueqin. This special comment of one question and one answer reveals to us Such information: Zhi Yan lived in the West Garden of Cao's family in his early years. Regarding Cao Xueqin's answer to Zhi Yan's question, the author believes that this only shows that Cao Xueqin respects Zhi Yan, but does not mean that Zhi Yan is certain. He is a male. When Mao Zedong wrote to Soong Ching Ling, he respectfully addressed Ms. Song as "Mr. Qing Ling." "Mr." is a woman. There are also comments such as "The writer made the reviewer cry so much" in Zhi Biao, which is obviously a female tone. From these comments, it can be seen that: 1. Zhi Yanzhai is a woman; 2. Zhi Yanzhai Once lived in the Grand View Garden; 3. Cao Xueqin respected Zhi Yan; 4. Zhi Yan and Xue Qin had a deep relationship. Based on these four conditions, only Miaoyu could meet the conditions for a relationship with Baoyu. It is possible to get married to Baoyu, but it is unlikely that Cao Xueqin would call her "sir" because Xiangyun is younger than Baoyu in the book. Baoyu calls Xiangyun "Sister Yun", and Xiangyun is engaged, so it is unlikely that she will marry her again. Baoyu ran away from home together. In "A Dream of Red Mansions", Baoyu always respected Miaoyu and called Miaoyu "Master" (Chapter 50) and "Miao Gong" (Chapter 87), so he criticized him. It is normal for Zhiyan (Miaoyu) to be called "Mr." life. If we carefully read the descriptions of Miaoyu and Baoyu's interactions in Dream of Red Mansions, we can see that the book contains their affectionate memories of the past.
The above is a reflection of the past. The analysis and inference of the issue that Zhi Yan is Miaoyu will be discussed below in conjunction with Zhi Pi, which is another key to solving the mystery of Zhi Yanzhai's life experience.
If the inference that Zhi Yanzhai is Miaoyu can be established, then we can continue to ask along this line of thinking. First, we must ask why Miaoyu became a monk? Is it really as stated in the book that he was forced to become a monk because he was sick as a child, or is there another hidden secret? I think it is a lie to become a monk due to illness, but it is true that there is another secret. In the Thirteenth Chapter of the Jiaxu Edition, there is a comment about the "five diseases" caused by Sister Feng's management of Ningguo Mansion: "There are many descendants of the old clan who suffer from these five diseases, especially those in the Yu family. Thirty years ago, see the book Thirty years later, Ling Yu was filled with grief and tears. "It can be seen that Zhi Yan lived in a prominent family thirty years ago, but something happened to him later. According to the Jiaxu year, it is 1754 (the 19th year of Qianlong), and the thirty years forward is 1724 (the second year of Yongzheng). In the second year of Yongzheng, the Cao family has not yet been raided, so the "Yu family is even worse" in the list is obviously not It refers to the Cao family, but refers to a past incident in Zhi Yan's own family where "a tree fell down and the hozens scattered". According to the record in Dream of Red Mansions, Miaoyu entered Jia's house in the year of Yuanchun, which was the year before the Cao family was ransacked. The Cao family was ransacked for the first time at the end of the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign. It can be seen that Miaoyu entered Jia's house. The mansion should be in the second or third year of Yongzheng. This was the time when Zhiyan's family was in chaos. Therefore, the so-called fact that Miaoyu became a monk due to illness when she was young is just a lie to hide the truth from others. It is the truth that she went to the Cao family to avoid disaster by hiding her name and practicing cultivation. As for what kind of disaster to avoid, there will be a special discussion later. There is Suzhou dialect in the Zhi batch. From this, it can be known that Zhi Yanzhai (Miaoyu) is indeed from Suzhou. Chapter 18 of Dream of Red Mansions says that Miaoyu enters Jia's house. It is quite meaningful. Not only did Mrs. Wang "instruct the Prime Minister to write an invitation to invite Miaoyu", but also "send someone to prepare a carriage and sedan to pick her up the next day." This is not a welcome. A monk was clearly welcoming a young lady in distress into the Jia Mansion. After Miaoyu entered Jia's house, she was specially arranged to live in "Guocui'an" and move freely. She was respected and treated politely by Jia's mother and others. She could even write on the side when Sister Feng ordered a play. (It needs to be pointed out that Miaoyu is a "cultivation leader" in Congcui'an, and she lives the life of a female layman, not a nun. Therefore, she can freely go in and out of the Grand View Garden to recite poetry, play chess, and listen to the piano with other sisters. , watching operas, tasting tea and discussing Zen.) These all show that Miaoyu's life experience is extraordinary. Her father and ancestors must have been high-ranking officials and had a certain close relationship with the Cao family. Otherwise, he would not have received such courtesy from the Cao family when he was in trouble.
When the author was studying Jin Nong's calligraphy, he accidentally discovered some clues and felt that Miaoyu (Zhi Yan) was most likely the daughter of Jin Nong's teacher He Zhuo. More importantly, two comments were found in the Zhi batch that are closely related to the major case of He Zhuo's imprisonment.
To explain the whole story, we first need to give a brief introduction to He Zhuo's life experience.
He Zhuo (1661-1722), whose courtesy name was Qizhan, nicknamed Yimen, and late Chaxian, was a native of Wuxian County, Suzhou. During the Kangxi period, he was appointed as a Gongsheng student in the South Study Room, and was given the title of Juren, and was given the title of Jinshi, official editor, and editor of books at the Wuying Hall. He is the author of "Mr. Yimen's Collection" and "Yimen's Reading Notes". He Zhuo was skilled in the appraisal of ancient editions. He was first employed as a commoner by Wang Hongxu, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and was later recommended to Emperor Kangxi by Li Guangdi, governor of Zhili, and was highly appreciated by Emperor Kangxi. In the 41st year of Kangxi's reign (1702), he was called to Beijing as a Gongsheng student and entered the Zhinan study room to teach the emperor's eight sons. The following year, he was given the status of a juren to take part in the examination, and he was also granted permission to take part in the imperial examination, and won the third place in the imperial examination. It can be said that your kindness is so great that you can reach the sky in one step. He Zhuo was not only knowledgeable, but also resourceful, and was known as "Pocket Cao Cao". When the eighth son of the emperor Yinzhen and the fourth son of the emperor Yinzhen (later the Yongzheng Emperor) were fighting for the throne, He Zhuo made suggestions and was deeply relied on by the eighth son of the emperor Yinzhen. Because the eighth prince's desire to compete for the throne was too eager and obvious, it aroused Emperor Kangxi's alarm and resentment. In addition, Yin Yuzhen (the fourth prince) deliberately framed him and found evidence that the eighth prince was friends with foreign ministers and plotted for the throne. Kangxi was secretly reported to Kangxi, and Kangxi was furious. Under the decree, the edict said: "(Yinxu) has been insidious since he was a child,... formed a party with rebellious ministers and traitors, and secretly committed treachery." ②Yinxu fell out of favor from then on, and a large number of officials were punished. He Zhuo was arrested and imprisoned for entrusting his infant daughter to the eighth son of the emperor for adoption (violating the regulations of the purge) during the period when Ding Gan returned to the imperial system. He was arrested and imprisoned for this reason.
After the death of He Zhuo, especially after Yongzheng succeeded to the throne, the descendants of the He family were in a panic. It was no longer safe to live in Suzhou, and a disaster might be imminent at any time. Under the guidance of his teacher, Zhi Yan defected to the Cao family. It was the best choice and arrangement to seek protection anonymously by practicing as a monk. It is normal for the Cao family to take in Zhi Yan (Miaoyu) and treat her with courtesy because of their old friendship with the He family. This is theoretically possible and reasonable for Zhiyan (Miaoyu) to hide in the Cao family. Let’s look at the existing physical objects. The fat inkstone used in Zhiyanzhai still existed before the Cultural Revolution. The second issue of "Cultural Relics" magazine in 1973 published a photo of the inkstone and introduced that the inkstone was originally owned by Xue Susu, a famous prostitute in Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty. The inkstone was engraved with " "The treasures of Zhiyanzhai will be studied and preserved forever" with ten official characters. The back of the inkstone is engraved with a poem written by Wang Jiudeng, a famous scholar of the Ming Dynasty, "Researching floating clear shadows, chewing jade dew. The heart is at one point, and the remaining moisturizing orchids are blowing." The bottom of the inkstone box is engraved with the words "Wanli Guiyou Gusu Wu Wanyou made". It is difficult for ordinary people to own such a precious inkstone. He Zhuo is a big collector and connoisseur. It is normal to own such a famous inkstone, and it is also normal to pass it on to his beloved daughter for collection and use. This inkstone later became a powerful tool for Cao Xueqin and Zhi Yanzhai to create and comment on "Dream of Red Mansions". After Zhi Yan left Cao Mansion, he took this name as Yan and continued to live an anonymous life. There was really all kinds of helplessness and hidden pain in this. "Mr. Qiansha has infinite love, but Mr. Zhi Yan hates him so much." In the immortal masterpiece "A Dream of Red Mansions", the endless joy and sorrow of Cao Xueqin and Zhi Yanzhai are condensed. It is precisely because of this that Zhi Yan wrote such a tearful comment before his death:
"From now on, I only hope that the Creator will bring out one more celery and one fat. What a blessing this book is, and the other two are also great." I’m so happy to be in Jiuquan!”