Dream of the Red Chamber, Volume 1

Monks appear throughout the novel as a symbol of spiritual teachings and spiritual wisdom. In many instances, they are discussed in reference to Impervioso and Mysterioso, who are rarely named but are known by their descriptions—as disheveled, “disreputable” looking characters. However, monks are a larger symbol in the novel and signify the importance of devotion and spiritual knowledge. Jia Jing, for example, is a monk. He is said to be close to achieving immortality, and he is one of few family members who don’t engage in the dramatic antics of life in the palace. In the novel, monks offer the possibility of healing from illness, by removing oneself from the world. This symbolizes the power of spirituality at its core, not only on the cosmic level, but also on the level of the physical body. The monks are indicative of a higher calling beyond mortal life and of the power of devotion to spiritual practice.

Riddles appear in the earliest and latest sections of the novel. They indicate fated knowledge not immediately clear to their mortal speakers. The first riddles appear in the Land of Illusion, in the hands of the fairy Disenchantment. The fairy understands their significance and the secrets they hold, but their meaning is lost on Bao-yu, who reads them without taking any hints. Bao-chai makes a note about Zen phrases and their difficulty to mortal readers, saying, “Those Taoist writings and Zen paradoxes can so easily lead people astray if they do not understand them properly” (441). Later, the girls write riddles at Grandmother Jia’s riddle party, and Jia Zheng is struck by their sadness. He thinks to himself, “[A]ll the girls’ verses contained images of grief and loss [...] it is almost as if they were all destined to be unfortunate and short-lived and were unconsciously telling their destiny” (449-50). Here, riddles clearly indicate a knowledge that is fated, but not immediately clear to mere mortals. They contain hints, however, for the reader, who knows to anticipate their foreshadowing and can interpret their convoluted meanings.