《紅樓夢》中的「石榴花」－賈元春新論

Abstract

This paper identifies the flower symbol of Yuan-chun to be the pomegranate flower. Starting from this, I explore & analyze the meaning nexus of many elements related to the figure of Yuan-chun. First, the bright redness of the pomegranate flower is a simile of the majestic status of Princess Yuan. Second, the pomegranate flower “always blooms after spring”, which hints that the untimely princess-appointment of Yuan-chun further worsens the economic status of the Jia family & thus hastens its decline. Third, the pomegranate flower fully blooms in mid-summer & then declines in the fall, forming a sharp contrast that intensifies a theme of Yuan-chun: After peak comes trough. This paper also discusses the mother-goddess status of Yuan-chun. It is first of all expressed in Yuan-chun’s initiation of the establishment of Prospect Garden & her right to nominate locations wherein, thus giving a symbolic structure (a nomos-morpholism) to Prospect Garden. It also expresses itself in her choice between Bau-chai & Dai-yu.