Synthesized answer
The 1763 date signifies the original publication of *Dream of the Red Chamber* in Chinese [1]. The 1891 date marks the publication of a translation by H. Bencraft Joly, which was released in two books [1]. This translation aimed to assist students of the Chinese language by providing access to the novel [3].
The Project Gutenberg dates, with postings in 2003 and a release date of January 2006 for Book I, indicate its digital accessibility [1, 2]. Project Gutenberg offers the eBook for free with minimal restrictions, allowing broad reuse and distribution [1, 2]. This chronology implies the work's enduring impact by showing its transition from its original Chinese publication, through translation for a wider audience, to its modern digital availability. However, the passages do not explain what this chronology implies about the work's accessibility beyond its digital format, nor do they explicitly discuss the "distinct roles and significance" of each date beyond their role in the work's publication and translation history.
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
← Hung Lou Meng or, the Dream of the Red Chamber, a Chinese novel in two books ( 1891 ) by Cao Xueqin , translated by H. Bencraft Joly Book 1 → Original published in Chinese in 1763 with this translation published in 1891 by H. Bencraft Joly, H.B.M. Consular Service, China The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hung Lou Meng, by Cao Xueqin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Book I — Posting…
← Contents Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin , translated by H. Bencraft Joly Book 1 Book 2 → The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hung Lou Meng, by Cao Xueqin This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Book I Posting Date: November 23, 2011 [EBook #9603] Release Date: January, 2006 First Posted: October 9, 2003 3426342 Dream of the Red Chamber — Book 1 H. Bencraft Joly Cao Xueqin PREFACE.…
me as a student in Peking, when, at the completion of the Tzu Erh Chi, I had to plunge in the maze of the Hung Lou Meng. Shortcomings are, I feel sure, to be discovered, both in the prose, as well as among the doggerel and uncouth rhymes, in which the text has been more adhered to than rhythm; but I shall feel satisfied with the result, if I succeed, even in the least degree, in affording a helping hand to present and future students of the Chinese language. H. BENCRAFT JOLY, H.B.M. Vice-Consulate, Macao, 1st September, 1891. THE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER. edit CHAPTER I. edit Chen Shih-yin,…
Title: Dream of the Red Chamber (also known as The Story of the Stone) by Cao Xueqin
earth was laid out chaos prevailed! What was the germ of love? It arises entirely from the strength of licentious love. What day, by the will of heaven, I felt wounded at heart, and what time I was at leisure, I made an attempt to disburden my sad heart; and with this object in view I indited this Dream of the Bed Chamber, on the subject of a disconsolate gold trinket and an unfortunate piece of jade. Waste of a whole Lifetime. All maintain that the match between gold and jade will be happy. All I can think of is the solemn oath contracted in days gone by by the plant and stone! Vain will I…
More questions about this book
- How does H. Bencraft Joly's stated motivation for translating *Dream of the Red Chamber* connect to the concept of making complex material accessible, and what specific challenges does he acknowledge in doing so?
- The text states the original writer "designedly concealed the true circumstances." Based on the very brief chapter summary, what might be the literary or thematic reasons for such an authorial choice, and how could this act of concealment shape a reader's engagement with the narrative from the outset?
- Joly admits to "shortcomings... both in the prose, as well as among the doggerel and uncouth rhymes." If you were a student relying on this translation, how would Joly's frank admission of these specific difficulties influence your approach to interpreting the novel, and what does it suggest about the inherent challenges of translating a culturally rich work like *Hung Lou Meng*?
- Consider the contrast between Chen Shih-yin's "vision, apprehends perception and spirituality" and Chia Yü-ts'un's "cherishes fond thoughts of a beautiful maiden" in the "windy and dusty world." How do these juxtaposed introductions in Chapter 1 immediately establish potential thematic tensions or a central philosophical inquiry for the novel, and what might these elements foreshadow for the overall narrative?