Marginalia on the Article “A Critique of ‘A Study of Dream of the Red Chamber’” Published in Guangming Daily〔1〕(October 1954) 1. Is it merely a tentative effort? Are they just some questions and opinions? Are they only for reference?〔2〕 2.〔3〕 This issue is worth studying. 3. There are shortcomings in this point.〔4〕 4.〔〕 This is Hu Shi’s philosophical relativism, that is, pragmatism.

5.〔〕 Printed according to Mao Zedong’s manuscript. What is written here has flaws; one should not exonerate Yu Pingbo. Note 〔1“ Literature〕 These are Mao Zedong’s marginal notes made while reading Li Xifan and Lan Ling’s article “A Critique of ‘A Study of Dream of the Red Chamber’,” which was published on October 10, 1954, in the “Cultural Heritage” column of Guangming Daily.〔 2〕

The editor’s note accompanying Li Xifan and Lan Ling’s article in Guangming Daily stated: “At present, the extremely important task of applying Marxist scientific viewpoints to the study of classical literature has yet to be properly carried out and urgently needs to be initiated. This article attempts to raise certain questions and offer some opinions in this regard, which may serve as a reference for us. At the same time, we hope it will draw wider attention and stimulate discussion. Furthermore, another article titled ‘A Brief Discussion on Dream of the Red Chamber’ has already been reprinted in the eighteenth issue of Literary Gazette and can also be studied by all.” Mao Zedong’s comments were directed specifically at the three phrases in the editor’s note—“attempts,” “raises certain questions and offers some opinions,” and “may serve as a reference.”〔3〕 This comment was made in response to the following passage in Li Xifan and Lan Ling’s article: “The decline of the Jia family is not merely a family matter or simply the fate of the Jia clan’s rise and fall; rather, it is a sign that the entire feudal bureaucratic landlord class, under the gradually emerging new historical conditions, is inevitably heading toward collapse.”〔4“ Such luxurious enjoyment could not be sustained〕 Li Xifan and Lan Ling wrote in their article: “solely by extracting ground rent from the peasantry. The only way out was to borrow heavily at exorbitant interest rates, thus inevitably leading to the collapse of its economic foundation.” Mao Zedong drew a vertical line beside this passage, added a question mark, and wrote this comment.〔〕 In their article, Li Xifan and Lan Ling quoted a passage from Yu Pingbo’s “A Study of Dream of the Red Chamber”: “It turns out that one’s perspective when criticizing literature is very prone to bias; hence, what A deems right, B may consider wrong—there is no objective standard.” In other words, “It’s like tossing chives with sesame oil: everyone has their own preference.” Mao Zedong drew vertical lines next to both the phrases “what A deems right, B may consider wrong—there is no objective standard” and “It’s like tossing chives with sesame oil: everyone has their own preference,” and wrote this comment.〔〕 This comment was addressed to the final paragraph of Li Xifan and Lan Ling’s article. The passage reads: “Although Mr. Yu Pingbo’s evaluation of Dream of the Red Chamber may differ from Hu Shi’s intentions, their effect is essentially the same: both deny that Dream of the Red Chamber is a great realist masterpiece and that it reflects the archetypal social tragedy of humanity, instead asserting that it portrays the tragedy of individual families and individuals, thereby distorting the novel into a naturalistic, descriptive work. This is precisely the common goal pursued by the New School of Textual Criticism. ‘A Study of Dream of the Red Chamber’ stands as a typical representative work of this school.”