Huang Da Nainai
璜大奶奶
“The Complaint She Swallowed”
Her Story
Née Jin, married to Jia Huang of a poor branch of the family, and aunt to Jin Rong, the schoolboy in the brawl of Chapter 9. In Chapter 10 she goes to Ningguo to complain to You Shi about the insult to her nephew. There she hears how gravely ill Qin Keqing is and how the house is turned around that illness, and her nerve fails. She says nothing about Jin Rong and goes home.
In Xiang Li's Hands
Full-face and planted, unlike almost every woman in this group. Gold ornaments in the hair, a grey cloud-patterned cape over a red jacket loud with pink blossoms, and a plain green skirt beneath. Dressed for a visit she intends to make an impression at. The mouth is set; the eyes hold the viewer.
The Calligraphy
Inscribed 璜大奶奶 — her husband’s given name and a title, so she is addressed entirely through him and never named.
Connections
- Jin Rong 金荣 — her nephew, on whose behalf she sets out.
- Jia Huang 贾璜 — her husband, of the clan’s poor branch.
- You Shi 尤氏 — the mistress of Ningguo she means to complain to.
- Qin Keqing 秦可卿 — whose illness is what silences her.
Others of the same kind · servant's wife / senior serving-woman Zhou Rui jia de 周瑞家的 · Lin Zhixiao jia de 林之孝家的 · Lai Da jia de 赖大家的 · Wang Shanbao jia de 王善保家的 · Wu Xindeng xifu 吴新登媳妇 · Wang'er xifu 旺儿媳妇 · Zhang Cai jia de 张材家的 · Zheng Hua jia de 郑华家的 · Wu Xing jia de 吴兴家的 · Laixi jia de 来喜家的 · Qin Xian jia de 秦显家的 · Bao Er jia de 鲍二家的 · Liu jia de 柳家的 · Shan Daniang 单大娘 and 10 more
Named on these pages Hu Shi 胡氏
Dream of the Red Chamber
Xiang Li painted all 413 characters of the novel between 1975 and 1985, the first person to complete the entire cast. See the whole collection · Chinese Empresses
