Dream of the Red Chamber

Dream of the Red Chamber

Share this post

Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber
The Old Pact Between The Tree And Stone
Translation

The Old Pact Between The Tree And Stone

Regret at the End of Life

Daniel Evensen's avatar
Daniel Evensen
Aug 11, 2025
∙ Paid
3

Share this post

Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber
The Old Pact Between The Tree And Stone
1
Share

The Old Pact Between The Tree And Stone

This is an absolutely fascinating poem, though it’s impossible to write about it without spoiling at least some of the story. Jia Baoyu here reflects on his relationship with both Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu. This is probably best analyzed after you’ve read the entire book; however, since we have already met all three characters, I’ll write a comprehensive interpretation. Be warned that this pretty much spoils the end of the book.


My Translation

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Dream of the Red Chamber to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Daniel Evensen
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share