Analyzing the Mid-Autumn Festival Link-Verse Poetry in "Dream of the Red Chamber": Baoyu and Others' "New Words" and Tragic Metaphors

Brief Introduction

In Chapter 76 of Dream of the Red Chamber, titled "Listening to the Flute at Convex Jade Hall with a Sense of Desolation; Linking Verses at Concave Crystal Pavilion in Sorrowful Loneliness," the new poems composed by Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, Shi Xiangyun, and others on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival are often colloquially referred to by readers as "New Words". Although not a formal term in Redology studies, this set of Mid-Autumn Festival Link-Verse Poetry represents one of the artistic peaks of poetry in the entire book. It not only showcases the literary talents of the residents of the Grand View Garden but also, through its desolate atmosphere, foreshadows the fate of the Jia family's transition from prosperity to decline. It is a key text for understanding the tragic core of the novel.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Creative Background: On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Grandma Jia appreciates the moon and listens to the flute at Convex Jade Hall; the desolate sound of the flute evokes a sense of sorrow. Meanwhile, Daiyu and Xiangyun engage in linking verses at Concave Crystal Pavilion. Although Baoyu is present to admire the moon, the core participants of the poetry linking are Daiyu and Xiangyun.
2. Poetic Form: It adopts the link-verse form, where participants take turns composing lines that fit together sequentially. This form tests quick wit and literary talent, while also metaphorically representing the intertwining and uncontrollability of the characters' fates.
3. Timeless Famous Lines: The lines composed by Daiyu, "A crane's shadow crosses the cold pond; A cold moon buries the flower's soul", are the soul of the entire piece. Using the imagery of "cold moon" and "flower's soul," it establishes a tragic tone. It is regarded as a poetic expression of Daiyu's fate prophecy and possesses immense artistic appeal.
4. Emotional Tone: Unlike the liveliness of previous Mid-Autumn Festivals, this poetry session is filled with loneliness and sorrow. It reflects the inner unease of the characters and the bleak atmosphere of the family, marking a turning point of "decline following extreme prosperity."

Connection to the Book's Content

This set of "New Words" is not an isolated literary creation but rather a manifestation of Cao Xueqin's technique of "subtle foreshadowing" (often referred to as "grass snake and grey line"):
* Foreshadowing of Fate: The line "A cold moon buries the flower's soul" directly echoes Daiyu's ending of "coming clean and returning clean." It implies her fate of dying after exhausting her tears, serving as a poetic omen for the character's conclusion.
* Family Rise and Fall: The Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a festival of reunion, yet the book describes "sorrowful loneliness." This reflects the reality of intensifying internal conflicts, economic deficits, and the scattering of hearts within the Jia family, echoing the theme of "when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter."
* Character Relationships: Although Baoyu participates in moon-gazing, the climax of the poetry linking is completed by Daiyu and Xiangyun. This implies Baoyu's identity as a spectator in the spiritual realm, as well as his unique spiritual resonance with Daiyu, distinguishing it from secular family responsibilities.

In summary, the Mid-Autumn "New Words" composed by Baoyu and others are actually an important carrier of the tragic aesthetics in Dream of the Red Chamber. They transcend mere festive occasion poetry, becoming a key code for interpreting character fate and the rise and fall of the family, worthy of readers' repeated appreciation.