妙玉新论

“金陵十二钗”除了妙玉以外,均为贾府女子;作为女尼的妙玉能上“金陵十二钗”者,则在于对宝玉之有一种特殊情缘。栊翠庵品茶,妙玉对宝玉“奉杯邀饮”;芦雪庵联诗罚宝玉乞梅,妙玉“慷慨赐予”;宝玉生日,妙玉“飞帖祝寿”;贾府中秋团圆赏月,妙玉出庵“踏月品笛”,——私衷在企盼与宝玉有邂逅之会焉!而其最后之“终陷泥沼中”,则表明了妙玉之异于黛玉宝钗湘云探春的另一种美的毁灭。

New Interpretation on Miaoyu

As it is known, all the "Twelve Ladies of Jinling" are from the Jia Family except Miaoyu. The reason why Miaoyu as a nun is listed as one of the Twelve Ladies is her special sentiment for Baoyu. When Miaoyu, Daiyu, Baocha, Baoyu sampling tea in Longcui'An (the nunnery where Miaoyu lives and prays), Miaoyu invites Baoyu to drink in her private cup. When the ladies of the Jia Family and Baoyu composing poems in Luxue'An, Baoyu is required, as a penalty, to ask Miaoyu for a spray of plum blossoms and Miaoyu gives him one generously. On Baoyu's birthday, Miaoyu sends him congratulatory card. As Miaoyu steps out of her nunnery and appreciates the melody from a bamboo flute, she secretly wishes to meet Baoyu. Her tragic destiny is another destruction of beauty in a different way as Daiyu, Baocha, Xiangyun and Tanchun are destructed.