9. Riddle me this?

[John]

9. Chapter 51 includes a number of riddles crafted by Bao-Qin. Pick one or two and share your solution, or if you are reading the David Hawkes translation, discuss his solution(s). What is the point of the riddles?

[[deleted user]]

I had no idea about what the riddles meant they just confused me.

In terms of the novel the riddles are used for New Year (I think it was New Year) to go on lanterns to keep evil spirits away as the spirits will try to solve the riddles and leave the people alone.

[Patrick]

Again, agree with BW about the use of the riddles. They probably make a lot more sense when read/told in Chinese, in a Chinese context, as many of the items referred to are probably more common in Chinese culture. Further, they all incorporate Chinese historical events or people we Westerners don't know anything about, unfortunately.

[Jen]

I did not understand the riddles at all. I think it was a clear case of reading them and trying to understand them from a completely different cultural and historical place than the time and place when/where they were written.

I agree with both of you.

[Pip]

Reading on Kindle is a distinct disadvantage when it comes to the riddles, by the time I got to the appendices I had forgotten the clues. If David Hawkes isn't sure what the answers are, then I am certainly not going to hazard any guesses. Riddles, however, are still popular in China. Because a particular sound can have so many meanings puns are universal and puns are often used in riddles.