Zhao Yihua
赵亦华
“Listed Once”
His Story
One of the six men named as Baoyu’s escort to the clan school in Chapter 9, with Li Gui, Wang Rong, Zhang Ruojin and Qian Qi. Like the others on that list he has a three-character name, no dialogue and no second appearance. The list exists to show the weight of the household around one child: Baoyu cannot cross the compound to a lesson without six grown men walking with him.
In Xiang Li's Hands
A broad conical hat with a red finial, a moustache and goatee, an olive robe under a dark cape. Across his shoulders a carrying pole loaded with a round gold lantern, a blue lattice box and bundles trailing red streamers. Half his face is in shadow under the brim.
The Calligraphy
赵亦华 sits high on the left in three characters, brushed rather larger than the sheet needs for a man the novel names once.
Connections
- Jia Baoyu 贾宝玉 — the boy he escorts to school in Chapter 9.
- Li Gui 李贵 — head of the escort and the only one of the six the novel develops.
- Zhang Ruojin 张若锦 — named immediately before him on the same list.
Others of the same kind · page / boy servant Mingyan 茗烟 · Chuyao 锄药 · Saohong 扫红 · Saohua 扫花 · Moyu 墨雨 · Yinquan 引泉 · Tiaoyun 挑云 · Banhe 伴鹤 · Shuangrui 双瑞 · Shuangshou 双寿 · Li Gui 李贵 · Wang Rong 王荣 · Zhang Ruojin 张若锦 · Qian Qi 钱启 and 5 more
Named on these pages Wang Rong 王荣 · Zhang Ruojin 张若锦 · Qian Qi 钱启
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
