When Liu Xinwu attempted to decode A Dream of Red Mansions (Dream of the Red Chamber is also commonly used in Western translations) with his unconventional opinions, the renowned writer fired up both the public and critics alike.

The controversy has been reignited with news that Liu will deliver two lectures in New York on April 15.

Upon the invitation of the China Institute, an organization based in the United States, the renowned writer will discuss his research achievements on A Dream of Red Mansions, a leading work of ancient Chinese literature boasting a history of thousands of years.

Liu is an eminent author in his own right. But thanks to a months-long debate influencing the classic novel's numerous fans across the country, the writer has become one of the most controversial figures in China.

It all began last April when Liu was invited to host a midday talk show at Channel 10 of China Central Television (CCTV), the largest TV network in China.

In the program which was broadcast every week across China until the end of last year, Liu detailed his new understandings and interpretations of the 250-year-old epic novel, on the basis of his decade-long research.

His opinions, however, seriously challenge traditional views, opening new doors where few others have ever walked through.

The program was both well received and questioned by many for the same reason.

Feeling he had not explained himself to the full, Liu published two books to further expound his views.

The books, both titled Liu Xinwu Decodes 'A Dream of Red Mansions', published in August 2005 by the Oriental Publishing House, were also welcomed by readers. Combined, the two titles sold more than 600,000 copies within only two months of publication, and ranked first on many best-seller lists.

One of Liu's most controversial theories is about Qin Keqing, a minor character whom the author Cao Xueqin (1725-63) said was brought into the Jia Family as an orphan baby girl and later married one of the Jia brothers.

She died young and vanished from the book early on.

The novel includes many hints about her possible affair with her father-in-law and her death-bed dream that shed light on the fate of Wang Xifeng, a major character, and the downfall of the entire Jia Family.

Liu has come to the conclusion that Qin's prototype was a daughter of a deposed prince and that the Jias knowingly took her in to bide their time for recovering family fortunes in case the prince gained another chance to take the throne. However, Jia Yuanchun, a daughter of Jia Zheng, who was sent to the palace and became an imperial concubine, sold Qin out in the fierce struggles for power and caused Qin's early demise and eventually the misfortune of the Jia Family after Yuanchun herself lost in the struggles.

Liu went so far as to raise the hypothesis that Qin was a representation of Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi's deposed son. Kangxi (reigned 1662-1722) had many sons and their battles for the throne inspired many tales and a number of intriguing modern novels.

Liu's study has triggered strong responses from many scholars on the novel, who queued up to refute him, accusing his study of "not following the academic norm."

They said Liu's approach is more like riddle-solving, or tracing linkage between the novel's events and characters and those of real life at that time.

His critics charged that his discretionary interpretation made him look like an irresponsible detective who interprets the book by setting one suspense after another.

"That is the reason why it is so intriguing and popular among TV viewers," said Hu Wenbin, vice-president of the Chinese Redology Society, an organization focusing on the study of the classic.

Hu argued that any responsible research needs to be based on real historical proof rather than imagination.

"One man's afterthoughts, though interesting, is never equivalent to academic research. To interpret the novel is not to play a guessing game," Hu was quoted as saying.

"A Dream of Red Mansions is not a book of innuendo, neither does it contain any code. You cannot read it by trying to decode something," Cai Yijiang, another vice-president of the Chinese Redology Society, wrote in a magazine.

Debate over authority

Interestingly, the debate, which originally focused on Liu's personal views, soon evolved into a discussion on who has the qualification to research Red Mansion.

Over the past 200 years, the book, regarded as one of China's four most prominent classical literature pieces, has earned for itself generations of fans. They fervently studied the novel and its essence that they developed a new sphere of study called "Redology" (Hong Xue).

But Redology gradually became too academic and highbrow for the general public. It is confined to the small circle of professional Redologists, who have a feeling of superiority over the book's amateur lovers.

They emphasized that Red Mansions can be popular but Redology has to be in the hands of a few academics."

"Not every reader who loves it can be an expert, and there have to be rules that all researchers have to abide by," said Hu.

Liu does not belong to any Redology society or club. He has devoted more than a decade to the research of the book and describes himself as a buff for the book.

He pleaded for more academic freedom for people outside the academia like him.

"Interpretation of the book is a public sphere and cannot be the monopoly of a small number of scholars," he was quoted as saying.

"Redology is like an abundant gold mine, everyone has the right to dig into it," said Liu, adding that the study of the novel is in the public domain, and academic researchers should be enlightened enough to appreciate the fact that readers have their own opinions.

Liu has won the support of the general public. Results of polls conducted by major portal websites such as Sina.com and 163.com show that nearly 80 per cent of respondents agree that "Liu has extended the possibilities on the study of Red Mansions, and his efforts are positive."

In response to the question "who has the right to research the book," about three fourths agree that "anyone who loves the novel" has the right.

Some even question the necessity of Redology societies because many so-called Redologists engage themselves in digging up minute, meaningless findings.

"So many people live on the book. They establish societies and institutions, consume huge amounts of social resources, but few of them have written valuable papers. Their work, even combined together, are much less touching than an amateur who solves riddles at home," said Xue Yong, a Chinese scholar who is now working at a university in the United States.

Liu said that although he does not think he is right on everything, he hopes his research would "motivate more people to read the classic."

This goal has been achieved at least. Last year alone, more than 50 different titles related with Red Mansions were published. Although these books were not as popular as Liu's two works, many of them have also become best-sellers.

(China Daily April 4, 2006)