March 30, 2019 – The Story of the Stone

Key

Chapters 5-6

I thought it was interesting that Bao-yu visits the same land Zhen Shi-yin visited and in fact the same land he once lived in
The songs appear to be about the decline of the Jia family and the love triangle
The Jia’s demonstrate generosity while still showing off their family heritage

Chapters 7-8

Dai-yu feels like she is given leftovers and is also leftover in Bao-yu’s eyes because he chooses Bao-chai over her
Ying tian, the kidnapped girl, is now a servant in the Jia household

Chapters 9-10

There is an obvious divide of wealth and power even among students at the private school
Family ties and standing are very important which is why Jia Qiang has a servant deal with the bullies
Again, Bao-yu only asks for an apology for his friend who is a family member and doesn’t ask for anything for the one who isn’t

Chapters 11-12

Lust eventually leads to Jia Rui becoming ill and dying
If he had been able to obey the Taoist, he would have been fine, but he looks into the forbidden side and even at death can’t part with his lust

Chapters 13-14

Chapters 15-16

Bao-yu’s father thinks that Bao-yu will never be more than a boy who plays with girls’ toys
Greed appears to corrupt Xi-feng as she undertakes matters that she gets compensation for but hides from the Jia family
Patience goes to great lengths to cover up Xi-feng’s actions and shows true loyalty

Chapters 17-18

Even more so than the funeral no expense is spared for Yuan-chun’s visit home – the funeral shows what people are willing to give up for a good ruler
Bao-yu is oft put down by his father when they are naming things but the names, he chooses are often still the best ones and accepted by the whole party
Chapter 18 shows the character contradiction of Bao-chi and Dai-yu – one is cheerful and the other sad which is reflected in their poetry

Chapters 19-20

Another female relationship of Bao-yu’s is explored which is with Aroma
Bao-yu appears to think of his servants as friends which is shown by how he helps with grooming and nursing them back to health
Xian-yun only adds to Dai-yu’s belief that Bao-yu is closer to Bao-chai, more loved, and more beautiful

Chapters 21-22

Bao-yu sleeps around which seems to cause his girl problems because every girl seemingly wants him
Although he seems to show growth when he relates the girls to the real world
The conflict between Xi-feng, Patience, and Jia Lian shows another master-servant relationship
The sign of the riddles seems to foretell short/ill-fated lives for the family

Chapters 23-24

Bao-yu’s father seems to realize he isn’t going to get another son and changes his attitude towards him in this section
The girls and Bao-yu move to the garden per Yuan-chun’s request to hopefully get Bao-yu to focus more on his studies
The actresses use flowes in their stores which seem to unconsciously remind Dai-yu of her life in the Land of Illusion

Chapters 25-26

Questions

How does Bao-chai’s locket have almost the same inscription as Bao-yu’s jade?
The part on Jia Rui’s lust seems contrarty to the rest of the novel because Bao-yu can have his way but others can’t?
In a different source I read something about their being a small-pox god that they try to atone to when Bao-yu gets sick, is this accurate?
Again, another note I read on the book is that when kids are sick the parents must abstain from sex specifically in relation to Jia Liang and his desire not to?
Why does the book on love and talking about marriage make Dai-yu upset? It seems that if she were just to engage then Bao-yu would focus on her and not Bao-chai.
Is the monk and Taoist that keep reappearing throughout the work the same one?