In the vast starry sky of literature, “Dream of the Red Chamber” shines like a brilliant pearl with its profound metaphors and rich character portrayal, shining with immortal light. In line with Shakespeare’s exploration of the subtleties of names in Romeo and Juliet, the character names in A Dream of Red Mansions are not simply symbols, but contain profound personality implications, destiny prophecies, and the author’s emotional attitudes, showcasing the vastness and profundity of Chinese culture and the exquisite literary creation.
Cao Xueqin constructed a complex metaphorical world in “Dream of the Red Chamber” through carefully crafted character naming. The names of Baoyu, Baochai, and Daiyu are not just simple titles, but also symbols of their intertwined destinies and emotional entanglements. The name Baoyu is divided into two parts, endowing Baochai and Daiyu with an inseparable connection between them and Baoyu, while also symbolizing the tragic love that Baoyu cannot have both worlds in his life. Daiyu passed away due to Baoyu’s divorce, and Baoyu’s heart also went with her. This deep affection and helplessness, just as its name suggests, are precious and fragile.
In addition, the names of the four springs of the Jia family in “Dream of the Red Chamber” – Yuan Chun, Ying Chun, Tan Chun, and Xi Chun – cleverly contain the deep meaning of “should sigh”. The four character combination not only harmonizes the phonetics, but also deeply reveals the tragic colors of the fate of the four women, making people sigh for them.
From an aesthetic perspective, the naming of characters in “Dream of the Red Chamber” is not only based on its profound meaning, but also on the perfect unity of its form and content. Cao Xueqin used various techniques such as conveying meaning through sound, meaning through meaning, and arranging them neatly, making each name an independent and vibrant work of art. In the process of translation, how to preserve the metaphor and beauty of these names has become a huge challenge for translators.
Translators such as Hawkes adopted a combination of transliteration and free translation when translating these metaphorical names, striving to convey their aesthetic value while respecting the spirit of the original text. Although transliteration can preserve the pronunciation characteristics of the original name, it seems inadequate in conveying deep meanings; Free translation, on the other hand, strives to reproduce the imagery beauty and emotional color of the original text through strategies such as literal translation, extension, and adjustment. By means of sound form compensation and plot compensation, the translator has to some extent compensated for the loss of formal beauty, making the translation retain the spiritual essence of the original text while also having a certain aesthetic value.
In short, the naming of characters in “Dream of the Red Chamber” has become a treasure in Chinese classical literature due to its unique metaphorical and aesthetic value. These names not only reveal the characters’ personalities and destinies, but also contain the author’s profound insights and unique perceptions of life, society, and history. In the process of translation and dissemination, the cultural connotations and aesthetic values carried by these names will continue to transcend the boundaries of time and space, touching the hearts of more readers.
