HONG LOU MENG RESEARCH CENTRE BULLETIN 2022

HONG LOU MENG RESEARCH CENTRE BULLETIN













e-Bulletin | ISSUE 02 | October 2022




O B I T U A R Y : D R . S E N G Y A N C H U A N . . . .0 1
ORGANIZATION CHART............03
M E M B E R & S T A F F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 4

2022 EVENTS
STUDIES OF HONG LOU MENG......05
H L M M U S I C A L C O N C E R T . . . . . . . . . . .0 7
I N T O D U C I N G H L M : E X H I B I T I O N . . . . . . .0 7
P U B L I C C O U R S E & S E S S I O N S . . . . . . .0 8
T H E S I S I N C E N T I V E P R O G R A M . . . . . . .0 9

P U B L I C A T I O N S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 0
PAPERS PUBLISHED.............. 12

BOOK DONATIONS................14
VISITORS...................... 15

REMEMBERING THE LIFE, DEATH AND OBITUARY
LEGACY OF DR. SENG YAN CHUAN
（
1965-2022
Dr. Seng Yan Chuan, 57, went to her heavenly home on
Saturday, 14 May 2022. She was a beloved wife and mother, a
respected senior lecturer at the University of Malaya and the Head
of Centre (HOC) of the Hong Lou Meng Research Centre UM.
Born in Muar, Johor, she was the only daughter of renowned

） children's literature writer, Ma Han. She earned a bachelor's
degree, a master's degree, and a Ph. D from the University of
Malaya and spent 33 years teaching there.
Her areas of study included Mahua literature, Hong Lou Meng (Dream
of Red Mansions), and translation studies. She was a visiting scholar
at Beijing’s Institute of Hong Lou Meng, and had also translated
Hong Lou Meng into the Malay language.
In writing, Dr. Seng was as prominent in academic research. She
received the 2nd Malaysia Distinguished Teochew Youth Literary
Award and the "Malaysian’s Ten Most Popular Writers" award. Her
works include: Carriage Inside/Outside, Never Give Up, If Life Could
U-Turn, The Eventful Years of Lim Lian Giok, Mahua Writers and
Social Concerns, and The Complex of Hong Lou Meng.
Dr. Seng will be remembered by her husband and son, family
members, as well as numerous friends and students. A wake service
was held on Sunday, 15 May 2022 at 8:00 p.m., at Parlour
22, Violet Hall, Nirvana Memorial Center.

From left, Associate Professor Dr. Fan Pik From left, Dr. Fan Pik Wah, Dato' Dr.

Wah, Head of Department of Chinese Hou Kok Chung, Adjunct Professor of

Studies UM, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, the Department of Chinese Studies UM, and

founder of HLMRC, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Prof. Datuk Dr Lim Chooi Kwa, former

Pejati’s second vice president, and Madam Associate Professor of Department of

Soh Wei Nee, Pejati’s director. Chinese Studies UM, and Assoc. Prof Dr.

Chong Siou Wei, Head of Institute of

Chinese Studies UTAR

Eulogies from The Society of A Dr. Teoh Hooi See speaks at
Dream of Red Mansions of China the wake service



MEMBER & STAFF

THE FOUNDER & HONORARY MEMBER
TAN SRI CHAN KONG CHOY

Adjunct Professor of the Department of Chinese Studies
Research Area: Chinese Literature Hong Lou Meng

HEAD OF HLMRC
DR. SENG YAN CHUAN

Senior Lecturer
Research Area: Malaysian Chinese Literature,
Classical Chinese Novels, Chinese Literature Hong Lou Meng


TREASURER
DR. YAM KAH KEAN

Research Area: Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Ideology, Chinese
Religions



DR. TEOH HOOI SEE

Senior Lecturer
Research Area: Classical Chinese Drama, Contemporary and

Modern Chinese Literature, Malaysian Chinese L
iterature
DR. CHIA JEE LUEN

Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Research Area: Classical Chinese Novels,
The Study of Hong Lou Meng, Literature Communication



SARAH TAN EE SIN

Research Assistant

2022 EVENTS e-Bulletin ISSUE 02 | Oct 2022

Studies of Hong Lou Meng
online course

Date: 18th March to 24th June 2022 (14 sessions)
Time:日6期:：0020p2.2m年. 3–月818:0日0至p6.月m.24e日very Friday
Venue: ZOOM 93828581369
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Duan Jiangli & Zhang Yun
Organizer:
1.The Department of Chinese Studies, UM
2.Hong Lou Meng Research Centre, UM
3.Persatuan Siswazah Jabatan Pengajian Tionghoa, UM
4.The Institute of Chinese Cultural Studies of Beijing Language
and Culture University

Last year, the Traditional Chinese Fiction online course was well
received by the public. This year, by popular demand, the very
same parties organized another online course i.e. Studies of Hong
Lou Meng. The course attracted 42 Hong Lou Meng’s lovers to
register their name paid RM50 for the certificate, made the total
number of participants 100. The first four lessons were conducted
by Madam Zhang Yun, and the remaining 10 lessons by Professor
Dr. Duan Jiangli

Conducted by Madam
Zhang Yun:

Lesson 1 – The textual history
Lesson 2 - The textual characteristics

Lesson 3 – The main characters (Baoyu, Daiyu
& Baochai)

Lesson 4 – The sequel

Mdm. Zhang Yun explained in detail the process of making the book as well as a comprehensive and objective summary
of the lost manuscripts. Next, she described the textual features the book and summed up Cao Xueqin's six writing
purposes and the corresponding six writing strategies.
Finally, Mdm. Zhang Yun introduced the research on the sequel and the last forty chapters in the Qing Dynasty. And
concluded that it is a book that can never be continued.
The four lessons were rich in content, and the students benefited a lot. They thanked Mr. Zhang Yun for his teaching
and deepened their understanding of "Dream of Red Mansions". They also hope to have the opportunity to meet with
the teacher in the future.

Studies of Hong Lou Meng online course

Conducted by Professor Dr. The fifth lesson was conducted by Professor Duan Jiangli. She
Duan Jiangli: started with the versions of the book, and also provided some
reading suggestions for the students.
Lesson 5 – The Issue with the Versions Next, Prof. Duan listed the evidence of Cao Xueqin as the
Lesson 6 – Ditto author,, examples of other suggestions, and the issue of Cao
Lesson 7 – The Issue with the Author Xueqin's birth and death years. In these disputes about the
Lesson 8 – The history of Redology author.
Lesson 9 – The Art of Narrative In last year's the Traditional Chinese Fiction online course, Prof.
Lesson 10 – Ditto Duan has already described a brief history of redology. This year,
Lesson 11 – The three dimensions of Zhen Shiyin & again she introduced some notable redologists and their theories.
Jia Yucun During the students' presentations, Prof. Duan detailed the
Lesson 12 – The image of Wang Xifeng narrative perspectives of Chinese and Western novels, citing vivid
Lesson 13 – Ditto examples to illustrate each category. Later, the narrative art of
Lesson 14 – assignment presentations "A Dream of Red Mansions" was introduced, allowing students to
see the author's innovation and brilliance in narrative mode and
techniques.
In terms of character analysis, Mr. Duan first interpreted Zhen
Shiyin and Jia Yucun from multiple dimensions, such as their typical
images, their conceptual carriers, and narratology theories. Then I
selected the most realistic character in the book i.e. Wang
Xifeng, to deeply analyze her image building from inside and outside
the text,as a wife, a daughter-in-law, a mother and a
housekeeper.

2022 events e-Bulletin ISSUE 02 | Oct 2022

MUSICAL CONCERT

：DATE 6TH AUG 2022

“Dream of the Red Chamber”

Musical Concert

Date: 06/08/2022 & 07/08/2022
Time: 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Organized by: Lee Rubber Old Pupils’ Association
Presented by: Lee Rubber Chinese Orchestra
Conductor: Leong Han Kuei
Soprano: Ang Mei Foong
Chorus: Young Kuala Lumpur Singers
Support units: HLMRC

EXHIBITION POSTER PROVIDED BY HLMRC

2022 EVENTS

Public Course & Sharing Session

Topic ： A Brief Introduction to the
Hong Lou Meng

Speaker Dr. Ong Siew Kian,
senior lecturer of the Department of Chinese Studies UM

Moderator Dr. Chia Jee Luen,
post-doctoral research fellow at HLMRC

Date 06/08/2022 (Saturday)
Time 6 p.m.-6.30 p.m.
Venue PJPAC

Yuanqu online course

Date: 28th Oct to 2nd Dec 2021 (6 sessions)
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. every Thursday
Venue: ZOOM 92802839033
Speaker: Dr. Wang Jinhua
Organizer:
1.Beijing Language and Culture University
2.The Department of Chinese Studies, UM
3.Persatuan Siswazah Jabatan Pengajian Tionghoa,UM
4.Hong Lou Meng Research Centre, UM

2022 EVENTS e-Bulletin ISSUE 02 | Oct 2022

Thesis Incentive Program

DATE：19TH DEC 2021

HLMRC provide rewards

under Thesis Incentive

Program

HLMRC Thesis Incentive Program is an
incentive program to reward students of
Chinese Studies who have completed their
dissertations on Hong Lou Meng and the
papers are published in a local or international
journal or deemed excellence by HLMRC,
according to the following categories:

THE FIRST BATCH OF RECIPIENTS

1. Khong Ling Fei (Bachelor of Arts Chinese Studies)
For the Dissertation entitled “THE LIVING STATE OF THE FEMALESERVANTS IN THE NOVEL DREAM OF
THE RED CHAMBERS”

2. Sarah Tan Ee Sin (Master of Arts (Coursework)
For the Dissertation entitled “THE LIVING FACILITIES IN A DREAM OF RED CHAMBERS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE SERVANTS IN JIA MANSION”

2022 events

PUBLICATIONS




Chan Kong Choy & Fan Pik
Wah. Literature, Text and Culture:
Multiple-dimensional Perspective
and Methodology in Studies on
Hong Lou Meng. Kuala Lumpur:
Department of Chinese Studies
UM & PEJATI, 2022.

The book was edited by Chan Kong Choy and Fan Pik
Wah, published by the Chinese Department of the
University of Malaya and HLMRC on 8th August 2022.
This publication was supported by University of Malaya
Grant PV006-2019.
It is a collection of papers presented at the 2019
International Dream of Red Chamber Conference Malaysia ,
held at the Faculty of Arts, University of Malaya. from
4th to 6th October 2019. Organized by the Chinese
Department of the University of Malaya, HLMRC and
Pejati, and co-organized by The Society of A Dream of
Red Mansions of China, The Society of A Dream of Red
Mansions of China of Korea, and the Beijing Cao Xueqin
Society, the conference was attended by 38 experts and
young scholars from across the Taiwan Strait, South
Korea, and Malaysia.

Among the 20 papers,one depiction and one review, four are written
by academic personnel by the Department of Chinese Studies UM,
namely, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy's "Talk about the value of "Pine
and Cypress with Longevity" painted by Cheng Weiyuan: In memory of
Zhang Shouping", the late Dr. Seng Yan Chuan's "Hong Lou Meng in
Fang Xiu's Chonglou’s Poems" ， Dr.Teoh Hooi See's "The lyrical
gesture of recollection of past events——Lyrical function in novel
criticism from the perceptual tone of Zhiyanzhai’s annotation" and
Dr. Chia Jee Luen's "A brief depiction on the 2019 International
Dream of Red Chamber Conference Malaysia".

The book cover featuring Cheng Weiyuan’s painting "Pine and Cypress
with Longevity".

2022 events

PUBLICATIONS

PAPERS PUBLISHED




Chan Kong Choy (2022) Talk about the Seng Yan Chuan (2022) Hong Lou Meng
value of "Pine and Cypress with in Fang Xiu's Chonglou’s Poems, pp.287-
Longevity" painted by Cheng Weiyuan: In 299
memory of Zhang Shouping, pp.11-29
Abstract: Fang Xiu was the first Malaysia Chinese
Abstract: This article mainly takes the painting "Pine and scholar who began to systematically research and
Cypress with Longevity" painted by Cheng Weiyuan as an comment on the classics. Published in 1998, "
example to illustrate the importance of connoisseur Zhang Chonglou’s Poems " included 9 poems about Hong Lou
Shouping's discerning paintings from the perspective of the Meng, discussing his love and thoughts about Hong Lou
existing value of documents. He treasured this painting for Meng, combined his heart after reading Hong Lou
decades, wrote an article for Cheng Weiyuan's vindication, Meng, and the sensibility of poetry as well as the
and passed down the painting to Malaysia with great love. rationality of academic criticism to evaluate redology,
Mr. Zhang's efforts are worthy of emulation by our the scope of the evaluation involves some controversial
younger generations. Most readers in Malaysia regard Cao subjects. Through the analysis of his literary aesthetic
Xueqin as the author of Hong Lou Meng and Gao E as the characteristics, the inner mystery of his creation, its
continuation book, but do not know Cheng Weiyuan. Cheng creation psychology and the causes of his works are
Weiyuan tried his best to collect and organize the seals so revealed. Fang Xiu's poems on Hong Lou Meng reflects
that Hong Lou Meng can be passed down to the present in the influence of the book’sdissemination in Malaysia
the form of one hundred and twenty "complete jade". His and Singapore.
contribution and status in the history of editions and Keywords: Fang Xiu, " Chonglou’s Poems, Hong Lou
circulation needs fair evaluation and affirmation. Meng
Keywords: Cheng Weiyuan, "Pine and Cypress with
Longevity" painting, Zhang Shouping, Malaysia Chia Jee Luen (2022) A brief depiction on
the 2019 International Dream of Red
Teoh Hooi See (2022) The lyrical gesture Chamber Conference Malaysia, pp.445-450
of recollection of past events——Lyrical
function in novel criticism from the Organized by the Chinese Department of the UM, HLMRC and
perceptual tone of Zhiyanzhai’s annotation, Pejati, and co-organized by The Society of A Dream of
pp.301-310 Red Mansions of China, The Society of A Dream of Red
Mansions of China of Korea, and the Beijing Cao Xueqin
Abstract: Zhiyanzhai’s annotation is the most special Society, the 2019 International Dream of Red Chamber
among the many criticisms on the novels of the Ming Conference Malaysia was successfully held from October 4th
and Qing Dynasties, due to his special identity as the to 6th, 2019, at the Faculty of Arts, University of
insider and the sound correspondence to author. Hence, Malaya. 38 experts and young scholars from across the
another layer of recessive structure can be read and Taiwan Strait, South Korea, and Malaysia attended the
emerges between the text and the commentary. it adds meeting. Chan Kong Choy pointed out in his opening speech
a perceptual tone to the original text and compares the that in the past ten years, UM has established the Dream of
fictional world in the novel with the reading perspective the Red Chamber Research Collection, and HLMRC, as well
of recalling a real background and character archetypes, as translated and published Hong Lou Meng in the Malay
which provides us with a greater imagination in the novel language. Malaysia has become an important research hub for
reading. The emotional tone of the comments, which is the study of Hong Lou Meng in Southeast Asia. He sincerely
composed of recollection and confession, not only restores thanked the predecessors and friends in the redology
the reading attitude of people at that time, but also community for their resources and guidance in the past. He
highlights the poetic and lyrical characteristics of the also hoped that Cao Xueqin and his works can be promoted
novel criticism tradition in Ming and Qing Dynasties. through the HLMRC, so that our fellow Malaysian can also
Keywords: Novel criticism, perceptual tone, lyrical understand this great work.
gesture

PAPERS论文PU
发B表LISHED



Chia Jee Luen (2021). The
Dissemination of Hong Lou
Meng before of time of Chinese
Language in Malaya. On the
History of Chinese Literature，
204-222.

Abstract: Regarding the earliest record of Hong Lou
Meng being introduced to Malaya, we can be sure
that the Singapore Kou You Xuan Star Newspaper
Office was already selling "The Story of the Stone"
in 1893 at the latest. Qiu Weixuan (Shuyuan)'s
"Dream of Red Mansions" was first engraved in
1898, marking the beginning of redology in Malaysia
and Singapore. However, Western missionaries left
their footprints on the spread of Hong Lou Meng in
Malaysia and Singapore as early as the 1820s. The
purpose of this paper is to verify the time and
possibility of Hong Lou Meng entering Malaya.
Keywords: Hong Lou Meng, dissemination, Malaysia,
Singapore.

Wang Jingru & Chia Jee Luen
(2022). How the Confucius China
Studies program helps in the
Dissemination of Hong Lou 梦
inMalaysia& Singapore. Seeking
wisdom in China: my journey
with Confucius China Studies
program， Beijing：China Renmin
University Press，158-174.

Abstract: After completed his Ph.D. degree in 2018,
Chia Jee Luen joined the newly opened HLMRC in UM,
and quickly become the backbone of the centre. In
addition to academic research, he also undertook a lot
of transactional work for the center and spared no
effort in the establishment of the center. The focus
of this interview is to find out Chia Jee Luen's
exploration on the academic research of Hong Lou
Meng in Malaysia and Singapore, focusing on his
achievements during the doctoral program under the
Confucius China Studies program.
Keywords: Keywords: Hong Lou Meng, dissemination,
Malaysia, Confucius China Studies program.

BOOK DONATIONS

HONG LOU MENG RESEARCH CENTR

THANK YOU FOR THE BOOK
DONATIONS!



THANKS TO DR.
SENG YAN
CHUAN’S HUSBAND
WHO DONATES HER
COLLECTION OF
REDOLOGY BOOKS
TO US.

THANKS TO BEIJING
CAO XUEQIN SOCIETY,
INTELLIGENTSIA BOOK

STATION, MR. YIP
KHAI BIAU FOR THEIR
KIND DONATIONS OF

BOOKS.

WELCOME TO VISIT

HONG LOU MENG RESEARCH CENTRE

PROFESSOR CHENG HAW-CHIEN

3rd June 2022

From left, Jordan Chang, Dr. Chia Jee Luen, Prof. Cheng Haw-Chien,
President of Central Research Academy of Art, Malaysia and visiting
professor of Renmin University of China, Dr. Ong Siew Kian and
students.

PROFESSOR
TAN CHEE-
BENG

10th June 2022
From left, Yong Hao Han,
President of Persatuan
Pascasiswazah JPT UM, Dr.
Ho Kee Chye, Dr. Teoh
Hooi See, Mdam Soh Wei
Nee, Prof. Tan Chee-
Beng, Dr. Ong Siew Kian,
Lee Sek Yui and Dr. Ngu
Ik Tien.

PROFESSOR DR. LOW KOK ON &
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DENG RONG

14th June 2022

From left, Dr. Dr. Ho Kee Chye, Dr. Chia Jee Luen, Professor Dr. Low Kok On ，
Director (Malaysia) of Confucius Institute Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Associate Professor
Deng Rong, Director (China ） , Dr. Fan Pik Wah, Dr. Teoh Hooi See, Dr. Chai Siaw
Ling,Dr. Ngu Ik Tien and Dr. Florence Kuek.

OTHER VISITORS

1st Mac Members of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Central Malaysia Chapter
4th April Members of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia PJSS3 and BLIA YAD
7th April Helen Hess, Ph.D. Candidate, Research & Teaching Assistant at University of Zurich
21st April Prof. Chan Tah Wei of National Taiwan University
27th May Undergraduate students Hor Jia Jiaa and father and friends.
2nd June Members of Lee Rubber Chinese Orchestra
13th June Ko Hui-chen, Head of Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative

Office, and secretary Ha Sa-ling
14th June Supt. Lai Lee Peng, Pegawai Turus Kepolisan Komuniti, Jabatan Pencegahan Jenayah dan

Keselamatan Komuniti Polis Kuala Lumpur ,Koperal Mohamad Syafiq dan Konst. Mohammad Irfan
29th June Dr. Lau Su Kia, Dr. Soh Siak Bie and Dr. Gan Yee Chin of Faculty of Languages and

Linguistics UM
19th Aug Prof. Dr. Ralf Vollmann of University of Graz
23rd Aug Associate Professor Lin Chun-chun of Nanhua University, Taiwan, and members
15th Sept Prof. Yeongha Ryu of Baekseok University, Korea
3rd Oct Lu Xin, Ph. D. students at University of Shanxi and Liu Zhiying, lecturer of Wuyi Universit,

China.
13th Oct Tan Chai Puan, Director of Strategic Development. Southern University College.

HONG LOU MENG RESEARCH CENTRE BULLETIN

ISSUE 02 | OCTOBER 2022

Editor : Dr. Chia Jee Luen

For general inquiries, please feel free to Exe. Editor : Sarah Tan Ee Sin
contact us by post, telephone or email.
Supervisor : Dr. Fan Pik Wah
Hong Lou Meng Research Centre Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy

(Dream of the Red Chamber Research Centre), Publisher : HLMRC, UM
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
University of Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.

Pusat Penyelidikan Hong Lou Meng

(Pusat Penyelidikan Mimpi di Mahligai Merah),
Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial,
Universiti Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.

: (603)7967 5520
: [email protected]
: https://www.facebook.com/PPHLMUM
: http://www.umchinesestudies.org.my/

hongloumengresearchcentre/

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