Zhineng
智能
“The Novice Who Ran”
Her Story
A young nun of Water Moon Priory who has been coming and going at the Rong-guo house long enough to be teased there. In Chapter 15, while Qin Keqing’s funeral party lodges at the priory, she and Qin Zhong meet in the dark. In Chapter 16 she runs away into the city to find him. Her arrival is discovered; Qin Zhong’s father beats him and dies of the rage, and Qin Zhong dies soon after. The novel does not say what becomes of her.
In Xiang Li's Hands
Standing, a dark mantle falling from her head to the floor in one long grey sweep, pale green robe beneath, a small orange flower held in both hands against her cheek. A jade bangle, a slight smile, eyes to one side. Bare paper. Nothing in the picture is renouncing anything.
The Calligraphy
Inscribed 智能儿 with the diminutive 儿 attached — the household’s familiar form for her, not the plain religious name her sister novice receives.
Connections
- Qin Zhong 秦钟 — her lover, whom she runs to the city to find.
- Jingxu 净虚 — the abbess of the priory she serves.
- Qin Keqing 秦可卿 — Qin Zhong’s sister, whose funeral brings the party to Water Moon Priory.
Others of the same kind · nun / monk / Taoist Miaoyu 妙玉 · Jingxu 净虚 · Zhishan 智善 · Zhitong 智通 · Yuanxin 圆信 · Da Liao 大了 · Sekong 色空 · Qinxiang 沁香 · Hexian 鹤仙 · Ma Daopo 马道婆 · Zhang Daoshi 张道士 · Wang Yitie 王一贴
Named on these pages Qin Zhong 秦钟 · Jingxu 净虚 · Zhishan 智善 · Qin Ye 秦业
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
