Making Sense Of The Allusions

What is Cao Xueqin talking about?

Making Sense Of The Allusions

Yesterday’s translation post included a number of interesting literary allusions:

案上設著武則天當日鏡室中設的寶鏡。一邊擺著趙飛燕立著舞過的金盤，盤內盛著安祿山擲過傷了太真乳的木瓜。上面設著壽昌公主於含章殿下臥的寶榻，懸的是同昌公主制的連珠帳。

There was a mirror on the table. This was the precious mirror that had once stood in Empress Wu Zetian’s mirrored chamber. On one side of the table was the golden platter on which Zhao Feiyan had once danced. On top of that was the quince that An Lushan had thrown, bruising Yang Guifei’s breast.

說著，親自展開了西施浣過的紗衾，移了紅娘抱過的鴛枕。

As she spoke, she unfurled the gauze bedding once washed by Xi Shi, and adjusted the mandarin duck pillow that Hongniang once held.

Each of these five literary and historical references are clearly erotic in nature. However, there’s something else going on here that’s even more interesting.