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Rereading the Stone

Rereading the Stone

Kevin Wilson, William Jones

Rereading the Stone is a weekly discussion of historical Chinese literature, philosophy, and poetry, currently focusing on the Qing dynastic Classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong lou meng 紅樓夢) also known as Story of the Stone (Shitou ji 石頭記).

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Top 10 Rereading the Stone Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Rereading the Stone episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Rereading the Stone for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Rereading the Stone episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Rereading the Stone - Ep 1: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Chapter 1, part 1
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08/08/20 • 98 min

In this very first pilot episode, Kevin Wilson and William Jones give a general introduction to Qing dynastic history and the famous Chinese author Cao Xueqin (1715 or 1724 – 1763 or 1764) before delving into the first part of Chapter 1 of this world-famous novel. Topics discussed include Chinese mythology, the Chinese language and naming systems, Chinese characters and their semantics, parallels between Hong lou meng and Xi you ji (a.k.a., Journey to the West), Buddhist thinking and its influence on this novel, and much more.

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Rereading the Stone - Ep 6: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Chapter 5, part 1
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09/14/20 • 56 min

Chapter 5 part 1

It’s part one of Chapter 5, a return to the Land of Illusion 太虛幻境 in one of the most famous chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Story of the Stone 石頭記), the dream chapter! This is also one of the most complex chapters of the novel (so many allusions, so much art and imagery!), so we have broken up our treatment into several separate episodes. We begin working through some cryptic and surreal imagery and messaging, and discuss in some detail the psychological and psychoanalytical dynamics reflected in the dream material. Get ready for some strange otherworldly bureaucracies, famous poems and songs, and the emergence of desire in its infinite sensual and representational forms.

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Bonus Content! By popular request, check out our summary episode for chapters 1 through 12 of Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Dream of the Red Chamber! This is mostly a plot summary for clarification and review, but we also talk a little here and there, giving general reflections on and reactions to the progress of the novel so far. Be sure to comment and tell us if this is helpful and whether you’d like to see more of these kinds of episodes in the future.

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In this episode, Rereading the Stone explores the subtext of a rather oblique discussion between Xifeng and Jia Lian, and Qin Zhong’s descent into the Yellow Springs is excavated. What lies beneath words and symbolic accoutrement, and what does it mean that the Ministers of the Underworld have already heard the legends of the magical jade?

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Rereading the Stone - Ep 7: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Chapter 5 part 2
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09/21/20 • 44 min

We continue our exploration of the lyrical Land of Illusion 太虛幻境 showcased in one of the most famous chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Story of the Stone 石頭記), Chapter 5, the dream chapter! Do you commend the marriage rites of gold and jade, or do you still recall the bond of old by stone and flower made? (A blood bond, or blood covenant 盟, as discussed in this episode.) As for Qin Keqing, if “love was her sea, her sky,” why does Baoyu see depicted a beautiful girl hanging by her neck from a beam? Lots to discuss as we delve ever deeper into this wondrous and complex dreamscape.

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Qin Keqing’s funeral is upon us, and Rereading the Stone is learning all about Daoist and Buddhist funerary rites and mourning rituals, and pondering the dialectics of mourning and excess, as Jia Zhen buys an official title for Jia Rong to elevate Qin Keqing in death, and as Wang Xifeng takes on more responsibilities than may be advisable.

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Rereading the Stone - Ep 9: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Chapter 5 part 4
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10/05/20 • 41 min

In pt. 4 of 4 of our epic Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Ch. 5 “Dream Chapter” discussion, a leisurely jaunt through the lyrical Land of Illusion 太虛幻境, we learn what happens when one dreams within a dream, to find the bed being dreamt in already occupied by the dialectical synthesis of one’s two primary love interests. What is this danger lying at the edge of illusion? What are these monstrous beasts reaching out from the void, and what is the meaning of this wooden raft?

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Jia Rui learns a lot — all too much — about fantasy and the reality of fantasy in this chapter of Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Dream of the Red Chamber. We trace the series of events that lead to Jia Rui’s receiving the magical precious mirror of the romantics (風月寶鑑 fengyue baojian). Is Jia Rui wholly to blame, or does his cousin Xifeng exact her revenge with excessive zealousness? In what ways is or is not Xifeng’s soul implicated in the fantasy space in which this mirror originates? One of the most fun chapters we’ve covered so far!

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Rereading the Stone - Ep 8: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢, Chapter 5 part 3
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09/28/20 • 47 min

In part three of four of our epic Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Chapter 5 “Dream Chapter” discussion, a leisurely jaunt through the lyrical Land of Illusion 太虛幻境, we give listen to a few prophetic songs singing the fates of Baoyu, Daiyu, Yuanchun, Tanchun, and Miaoyu. Kevin demos a new translation of “Frowning Brows” 枉凝眉 and we discuss the possible historicity of metaphors and meaning.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Rereading the Stone have?

Rereading the Stone currently has 87 episodes available.

What topics does Rereading the Stone cover?

The podcast is about Poetry, Fiction, Society & Culture, History, Psychology, Podcasts, Philosophy, Historical Fiction and China.

What is the most popular episode on Rereading the Stone?

The episode title 'Ep 1: Rereading Hong lou meng 紅樓夢 Chapter 1, part 1' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Rereading the Stone?

The average episode length on Rereading the Stone is 54 minutes.

How often are episodes of Rereading the Stone released?

Episodes of Rereading the Stone are typically released every 8 days, 13 hours.

When was the first episode of Rereading the Stone?

The first episode of Rereading the Stone was released on Aug 8, 2020.

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