智者千虑 必有一失——荣国府玉字辈排行问题考释兼与周汝昌、要力石先生商榷

Even the Wise are Not Free from Error——Research on Seniority Rank Problem in Rong-guo Mansion and the Discussion with Zhou Ruchang & Yao Lishi

荣国府贾琏贾宝玉同称二爷,成为学界一个难解之谜。周汝昌先生认为是荣府本院的小排行和宁荣两府的大排行所致。要力石认为,贾琏原有个哥哥,后来被删掉了。两者的解说皆错,经考辨,合乎事体情理的结论是:贾宝玉被称二爷是贾政儿子们的小排行,贾琏被称二爷则是荣府中贾赦、贾政子弟们的大排行。流行本中的"次名贾琏"疑为"子名贾琏"谐音传抄之误。

Both Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu are addressed as the second eldest master of their generation in Rong-guo Mansion, which has been an enigma in educational circles. Zhou Ruchang deems that it is caused by different ranks in Rong-guo Mansion and the Jia family including both Rong-guo Mansion and Ning-guo Mansion. Yao Lishi thouhgt that Jia Lian might have an elder brother who was removed from the book by the author later. Both of their opinions are wrong. According to my research, the rational conclusion is that Jia Baoyu is Jia Zheng＇s second son, while Jia Lian ranks second in age among the sons of Jia She and Jia Zheng. Zi Ming Jia Lian （The son＇s name is Jia Lian） has been misrepresented as Ci Ming Jia Lian （The second son＇s name is Jia Lian） in the popular version of A Dream of Red Mansions just because Zi and Ci are similar in sound