Jin Rong
金荣
“The Boy Who Started It”
His Story
A poor relation, nephew of Jia Huang’s wife, admitted to the clan school on the family’s charity. In Chapter 9 he sneers at Qin Zhong and the boy nicknamed Xianglian, and the accusation tips the schoolroom into a brawl — inkstones thrown, Jia Rui unable to stop it. Jin Rong is made to kowtow to Qin Zhong in apology. In Chapter 10 his aunt carries the grievance to You-shi, hears that Qin Keqing is ill, and lets it go.
In Xiang Li's Hands
No schoolroom. A figure in blue sits on a gnarled tree root cradling a small long-haired dog, eyes lowered, a blue-green cloth knotted over the topknot. The face is soft enough to read as a girl’s. She keeps none of the fight — only the one thing he is holding.
The Calligraphy
Inscribed 金荣, surname and given name together, the way a boy is listed on a school register rather than called across a room.
Connections
- Qin Zhong 秦钟 — the object of his jealousy, and the boy he is made to kowtow to.
- Jin-shi 金氏 — his aunt, Jia Huang’s wife, who takes up his grievance and then drops it.
- Jia Rui 贾瑞 — the schoolmaster’s deputy who cannot control the riot.
Others of the same kind · official / noble / royal Qin Zhong 秦钟 · Jia Yucun 贾雨村 · Bei Jing Wang 北静王 · Leng Zixing 冷子兴 · Zhang Rugui 张如圭 · Menzi 门子 · Xiping Junwang 西平郡王 · Nan'an Taifei 南安太妃 · Zhangshiguan 长史官 · Feng Ziying 冯紫英 · Sun Shaozu 孙绍祖 · Yun Guang 云光 · Fu Shi 傅试 · Fu Qiufang 傅秋芳 and 9 more
Named on these pages Mingyan 茗烟 · Huang Da Nainai 璜大奶奶 · Yu'ai 玉爱 · 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
