Jin'ge
金哥
“Three Thousand Taels”
Her Story
Daughter of a rich Chang’an family, betrothed to a garrison commander’s son and then wanted by Li Yanei, the prefect’s brother-in-law. Her family tries to give back the first betrothal gifts; the commander’s family refuses. In Chapter 15 the abbess Jingxu asks Wang Xifeng to intervene, and Xifeng takes three thousand taels to have a letter written that forces the commander to withdraw. Chapter 16: Jin-ge hangs herself, and the young man she was first promised to drowns himself. Xifeng, the novel notes, grows bolder after this.
In Xiang Li's Hands
Almost nothing but red. The robe has slid off both shoulders and hangs from her arms, hair loose down her back, face turned away and down, mouth small. Bare paper behind. It is the least clothed figure in this group, and she is the one who hangs herself.
The Calligraphy
The inscription 金哥 gives a familiar household name and nothing else — no surname, no title — which is all the novel ever gives her either.
Connections
- Li Yanei 李衙内 — the second suitor whose pursuit destroys her engagement.
- Wang Xifeng 王熙凤 — takes the bribe that decides the case.
- Jingxu 净虚 — the Water Moon Priory abbess who brings her family’s request to the Jia house.
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 Li Yanei 李衙内 · Zhang Yuanwai 张员外 · Zhao Gongzi 赵公子 · Zhao Shoubei 赵守备
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
