“Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true;

Real becomes not-real where the unreal’s real” (528)

This couplet seen at the entrance to The Land of Illusion becomes an overarching theme in The Story of the Stone. Quite apt is the couplet  as the story contains numerous instances where appearances belie the “truth.”

After leaving the mythical realm in Shiyin’s dreams, we enter the Jia mansion. Immediately, we are told of the immense wealth and prosperity the Jias possess through Daiyu’s perspective. At the entrance, “two great stone lions crouched one on each side of a triple gateway whose doors were embellished with animal-heads” (541). The main apartments Daiyu is led into “were housed in an imposing five-frame building resplendent with carved and painted beams and rafters” (541-542).

Inconsistent with the riches so evidently displayed throughout the mansion, the Jias wealth and power have been waning as the family is plagued with financial problems. From Yucun’s conversation with Zixing at a village inn, we learn that “the Rong and Ning mansions are in a greatly reduced state compared with what they used to be” (533). Zixing does not speak directly of financial hardships, but rather the difficulties the Jias are facing in raising heirs who are less “degenerate from one generation to the next” (534) to continue this prosperity. For example, Ningguo’s eldest grandson, Jia Fu “died at the age of eight or nine, leaving only the second son, Jia Jing, to inherit. Nowadays, Jia Jing’s only interest in life is Taoism… With old Jia Jing… refusing to exercise any authority, [his son] has thrown his responsibilities to the winds” (534). We see similar descriptions concerning the male heirs of the Duke of Rongguo and can deduce that the male heirs of the Jia family may be unable “to economize or make any adjustments in their accustomed style of living” (534).

We see more evidence supporting Zixing’s claims as we learn more about the Jia household. The esteemed position of authority in the Jia household is occupied by Grandmother Jia. We are able to infer this from statements such as “… because Grandmother Jia doted on [Baoyu] so much, no one ever dared to correct him” (548). Grandmother Jia’s control over the Jia household, however, is paradoxical to the Confucian canons exalted and studied during that time.

Ironically enough, we see that the other females in the Jia family are also flourishing. For example, Wang Xifeng, a female “brought up… just like a boy” (544) oversees the finances within the Jia household. This is illustrated through Aunt Wang questioning Xifeng on the status of the monthly allowances being paid out.

Ultimately, the couplet at the Land of Illusion is telling when it comes to the Jia household. The “truth” that the Jias are wealthy turns false when the “fiction” that they are experiencing financial problems becomes true. What Chinese society considered “reality” concerning males being heads of households becomes just a tale found in Confucian canons when the “unreal” that females are running the Jia family turns real.

-Amy (SiJia) You