“DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER” AS A LINGUACULTURAL CODE FOR INTERPRETING JADE CULTURE IN CHINA

Abstract

Chinese jade culture constitutes a pivotal part of the national heritage. Cao Xueqin’s novel “Dream of the Red Chamber” serves as an encyclopedia of this culture; however, its representation in translations, particularly into Russian, remains understudied. The purpose of this article is to identify and systematize the linguocultural functions and symbolic meanings of jade through the analysis of the “Tonglingbaoyu” image. The methodology is based on literary and cultural analysis of the text. The research results reveal three interconnected aspects of the image: its mythopoetic origin and syncretic nature, its polyfunctionality as a sacred object, and its ambivalence as a symbol of social criticism. The conclusions confirm that through this image, Cao Xueqin created a complex literary interpretation of jade, integrating aesthetic, spiritual, and social meanings. The study contributes to the understanding of Chinese linguaculture and opens prospects for intercultural dialogue, particularly for the future analysis of Russian-language translations of the novel.