英文摘要 |
The article analyzes Xue Bao-qin's "Ten Poems of Meditation on the Past," the collection of poems (henceforth Ten Poems) that is the single meditation-on-the-past poem (懷古詩) in The Dream of the Red Chamber and also the longest among all collections-of-poems (組詩) at the time. Traditional commentaries on the Ten Poems adopt an allegorical approach, with typical intention of puzzle-style interpretations. By contrast, this article analyzes it from the context of poetry and narrative per se. Relating the Ten Poems to its literary tradition and the sociocultural context of the Ming and early Qing era, the article discusses interrelated issues such as the work's narrative patterns and forms, the characteristics and meanings of its stylistic type, and the role it plays in order to reevaluate its values in The Dream of the Red Chamber. In conclusion, the article suggests that the Ten Poems fuse three poem subgenres including huaigu, yongshi and yongwu so as to meditate the title of the past (huaigu qi ming), and chant the functions of objects (yongwu qi yong) and accomplishments of the history (yongshi qi shi). Through the ten historic sites and corresponding figures meditated and described, the Ten Poems proposes a balance of gender difference. This article also discusses the significance of Xue Bao-qin as the author of the Ten Poems. |