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Artwork for Rereading the Stone

Rereading the Stone

Kevin Wilson, William Jones
Dream Of the Red Chamber
Chinese Literature
Wang Xifeng
Granny Liu
Book Burning
Jealousy
Social Hierarchies
Qing Dynasty
Jia Family
Art
Confucianism
Chinese Classics
Golden
Cao Zhi
Water Spirit
Xifeng
Iron Threshold
Jia Lian
Gender Roles
Literacy

Rereading the Stone is a weekly discussion of historical Chinese literature, philosophy, and poetry, currently focusing on the Qing dynastic Classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong lou meng 紅樓夢) also known as Story of the Stone (Shitou ji 石頭記).

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes98Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureFiction

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Artwork for Rereading the Stone

Latest Episodes

Yuanyang 鴛鴦 (Faithful in the Hawkes translation) emerges as an iconic proto-feminist heroine! One of the most important and memorable subplots of Hongloumeng 紅樓夢 (Dream of the Red Chamber), Yuanyang’s refusal of Jia She’s marriage proposal. Is she “f... more

It’s a poetry-pilled installment of Rereading the Stone! We compare Zhang Ruoxu’s 張若虛 (660 – ca. 720) “Spring River in the Flower Moon Night《春江花月夜》,” featuring a new draft translation, with Lin Daiyu’s 《秋窗風雨夕》, “Autumn Window: A Night of Wind and Rai... more

Xifeng (and her purse) is invited into the Crabflower Club. Meanwhile we review the family relations of lesser characters like Lai Da’s wife and discuss her “don’t spare the rod” 不打不成才 philosophy.

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Xifeng is shaking with anger. Is there meaning in the madness? What are the real and imagined consequences of Jia Lian’s transgressions? We try to conceive a contemporary framework for interpreting a tumultuous series of events in Dream of the Red Ch... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Hosts

William Jones
Host of Rereading the Stone; co-host; engages in close-reading discussions and translation notes.
Kevin Wilson
Co-host; leads analysis on character dynamics, translation choices, and cultural context.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • A great listen for Hong Lou Meng readers

    Fantastic podcast. If you’re interested in Hong Lou Meng and Chinese literary history, this is a great listen. I’ve been listening since I finished the book recently, and it’s been a helpful way to dive deeper into the book and its surrounding cultural context. Hope they keep it up for many more episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slanted + Enchanted
    United States9 months ago
  • Brilliant

    Really insightful and interesting - I would highly recommend this podcast to anyone reading or re-reading the stone.

    I love how the hosts explain things like jokes/wordplay, cultural references and poetry that the English translation can’t fully capture.

    妙 miào

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CGalimore
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Missing the flow in the narration

    I sm very interested in the topic but the autjors use so many times uh, aaa, like, kind of to fill the gaps. I really hope it will improve. Makes it really dificult to listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    haja213452
    Germany3 years ago
  • Great podcast

    This is such an excellent analysis. I hope you continue to make more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    quincy400
    United States4 years ago
  • High quality podcast

    I've been looking for a detailed summary + discussion of Hong lou meng for a while. I'm happy to find this high quality production. Love the character analysis and cultural background explanation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VincentK1991
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few listeners note occasional pacing issues or filler words, but overall the content is consistently high-quality and informative.
Listeners value the meticulous literary analysis and the ability to illuminate jokes, wordplay, and cultural references that translations miss.
Production quality and depth of context set the show apart for fans of Dream of the Red Chamber and classical Chinese culture.
The hosts' rapport and accessible approach make complex Chinese literature feel approachable and rewarding.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rereading the Stone

What is Rereading the Stone about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly deep-dive into historical Chinese literature, philosophy, and poetry, with a focus on a Qing-dynasty classic. Conversations regularly blend close-text reading, translation discussion, and cultural context, exploring character motivations, social norms, and poetic allusions. Notable strengths include thoughtful analysis of gender dynamics, symbolism, and the interplay between narrative and meta-commentary, delivered with accessible banter and a teaching-through-discussion vibe that appeals to literature lovers, translators, and scholars alike. The show often links traditional concepts to broader questions about literature, history, and culture, making it a compelling listen for anyone curious about Story of the Stone and its endurin... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rereading the Stone?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rereading the Stone:

1. Overdue
2. ChinaTalk
3. The Rest Is History
4. Ones and Tooze
5. Michael and Us

How many episodes of Rereading the Stone are there?

Rereading the Stone launched 6 years ago and published 98 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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