Granny Liu

Granny Liu (Chinese: 劉姥姥; pinyin: Liú Lǎolāo) is a character in the 18th century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is an elderly country rustic and a distant relative of Lady Wang through "joining families" and marriage (i.e. they are not related by blood).

Granny Liu's son-in-law's grandfather was adopted by Lady Wang's father, hence the Jia clan became related to her son-in-law's family. Granny Liu was entrusted with the task of calling on Lady Wang by her son-in-law Gou'er.

Granny Liu visits the Rongguo Mansion on two occasions during the novel with her young grandson Ban'er. Each time, they provide a sharp contrast to the Jia family members. Nevertheless, she is respected by everyone for her age, hale physique and forthright nature, providing much comic relief, even for the Dowager. Each time, she also takes home many valuable gifts of clothing, money, food, family remedies, and livestock. In Cheng-Gao ending of the novel, Granny Liu visits Wang Xifeng before she dies and saves Qiaojie from concubinage.

The expression roughly translating to "Granny Liu visits the Grand View Gardens" (simplified Chinese: 刘姥姥进大观园; traditional Chinese: 劉姥姥進大觀園; pinyin: Liú lǎolao jìn Dàguānyuán) refers to this character, who visits the noble family who plays host to her, but which also makes fun of her openly for her simplicity (Granny Liu is, however, grateful for their generosity.) The expression is used in modern Chinese to describe someone, usually simple and unsophisticated, who is overwhelmed by new experiences and luxurious surroundings.

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Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber

• Redology

Text and
commentaries

• Zhiyanzhai
• Odd Tablet
• Cheng-Gao versions
• Gao E

Characters

Jia Zheng's nuclear family	Jia Baoyu Hua Xiren Qingwen Jia Tanchun Li Wan Jia Zheng Lady Wang (Jia Yuanchun)
Xue family	Xue Baochai Xue Pan Xiangling
Jia She's nuclear family	Wang Xifeng Ping'er Jia Yingchun Jia Qiaojie Jia Lian
Jia Zhen's nuclear family	Jia Xichun Qin Keqing
Other characters	Lin Daiyu Shi Xiangyun Miaoyu Grandmother Jia Granny Liu Qin Zhong Jiang Yuhan Lingguan

Places

• Daguanyuan

Sequels

• The New Story of the Stone (1905)

Adaptations

• Dream of the Red Chamber (1944 film)
• Dream of the Red Chamber (1987 TV series)
• A Dream of Red Mansions (1988 film series)
• Dream of the Red Chamber (1996 TV series)
• The Dream of Red Mansions (2010 TV series)
• Dream of the Red Chamber (opera)

Category

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