Was it the Dream of the Red Chamber or the Story of the Stone that came first? What was the origin of these two names?
The names 'Dream of the Red Chamber' and 'Story of the Stone' were both created by the author of 'Dream of the Red Chamber', Cao Xueqin. However, there were some different versions of the origins of these two names. Some people believed that the name 'Story of the Stone' was already conceived by Cao Xueqin when he was writing 'Dream of the Red Chamber', and that' Dream of the Red Chamber 'was changed to a new name during the creative process. Cao Xueqin described a stone in an illusory world in the Story of the Stone, and this name was derived from the texture and shape of the stone. Some people believed that the name " Story of the Stone " was coined by Cao Xueqin when he wrote " Dream of the Red Chamber " to differentiate it from another novel," Journey to the West." The main character in Journey to the West was a monkey, and Cao Xueqin believed that there should also be a monkey in Dream of the Red Chamber, thus creating the name of Story of the Stone. No matter what,"Story of the Stone" and "Dream of the Red Chamber" are both classics in the history of Chinese literature. They have left a precious cultural heritage for future generations with their unique literary style and profound ideology.