Tragic Fate: The Haunting Premonition of Chen Xiaoxu, the Ill-Fated Lin Daiyu of Dream of Red Mansions

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Chen Xiaoxu, the actress who played Lin Daiyu in Dream of Red Mansions, had a strange experience in her life…

Source: BackChina (backchina.com)

The recently released film version of Dream of the Red Chamber has received a lot of negative reviews, and many viewers are indignant, thinking that the gap between the new version and the classic is too big. Why is it always difficult to surpass the classic? Let’s analyze this question from the image of Lin Daiyu.

　　

Speaking of Lin Daiyu, I’m afraid that the audience will immediately think of Chen Xiaoxu in the 1987 version of “Dream of Red Mansions”. Whether it is her clear eyes or her delicate figure like a painting, it makes people sigh that “In the dream of Red Mansions, Xiaoxu and Daiyu are the most.”

This is not only a matter of acting skills, but also the result of Chen Xiaoxu’s deep fit with the image of Lin Daiyu. No matter how many actors have tried to play this classic role, they have not been able to break the benchmark she set. Lin Daiyu seems to have become one with Chen Xiaoxu, and her performance can be said to be irreplaceable.

　　

The fate of Chen Xiaoxu and Lin Daiyu seems to be arranged by fate. Her acting career is more like a book of fate. Chen Xiaoxu has been weak and sickly since childhood, just like Lin Daiyu, and her growth process also reveals an unspeakable sense of fate. If this classic performance can be immortalized, it may also be part of her fate.

In 1983, Bi Yanjun, who was then an actor in Anshan Drama Troupe, accidentally saw the news that Dream of Red Mansions was being prepared for filming. Instantly, a person emerged in his mind – Chen Xiaoxu.

Her delicate but tenacious temperament was just right for Lin Daiyu, so he encouraged Chen Xiaoxu to audition. However, Chen Xiaoxu, who was full of ambition at the time, did not think she was qualified for such an important role and was hesitant about the audition.

　　

After repeated persuasion from Bi Yanjun, Chen Xiaoxu finally put aside her concerns and wrote a long letter, attached a still photo and several original poems, and sent it to director Wang Fulin.

What is even more touching is that she came to the audition site in the rain despite the bad weather, which really showed her deep understanding of “Dream of Red Mansions”.

Although her appearance did not meet the director’s standards, her passion for the role deeply moved the director. After the audition, Wang Fulin specifically told her to keep her return ticket, which may have foreshadowed a fateful arrangement.

　　

Chen Xiaoxu waited for nearly a year with anticipation and anxiety, and finally received an invitation from the crew of Dream of Red Mansions in 1984 to attend pre-shooting training. She got the role of Lin Daiyu, and all her efforts and waiting finally paid off. Chen Xiaoxu’s participation added deeper emotions and soul to this classic.

Looking back on Chen Xiaoxu’s acting career, since she joined the Anshan Repertory Theatre at the age of 15, she has been a lively and naughty little girl who loves to play pranks by nature and is full of youthful vitality.

It is this love for life and dedication to acting that made her quickly grow into an absolutely good actor after joining the crew of Dream of Red Mansions. She put all her emotions into the role of Lin Daiyu, which won unanimous praise from the audience and the industry.

　　

The dual experiences of love and career also made Chen Xiaoxu go through many twists and turns in the later years. During the filming of “Dream of Red Mansions”, her relationship with Bi Yanjun started with deep affection, but eventually became estranged.

She did not give up, but met her second husband, Hao Tong. Together they founded an advertising company and successfully carved out a niche in the advertising industry with their talent and hard work.

Before Chen Xiaoxu was born, her mother had a dream in which an old man predicted that she would have a daughter and named her “Fen”. “Fen” also happens to be the name of a fragrant wood, which has a profound meaning. After Chen Xiaoxu was born, this dream seemed even more fantastic and real. All kinds of signs seemed to indicate her fateful connection with Lin Daiyu.

　　

Even more intriguing is her funeral. After Chen Xiaoxu passed away, when taking photos of her, her colleague Yang Shuyun told reporters that she found that the poster suddenly fell down, as if Chen Xiaoxu was welcoming them in some way.

This strange phenomenon makes people sigh that everything may be the arrangement of fate, and she and Lin Daiyu really have some kind of spiritual understanding.

In 2007, Chen Xiaoxu passed away due to breast cancer, and many of her colleagues from Dream of the Red Chamber came to her farewell ceremony. Although Chen Xiaoxu is gone, the image of her and Lin Daiyu is still deeply rooted in people’s hearts.

　　

Throughout her life, she interpreted the classic role of Lin Daiyu with her unique talent and spirituality, and portrayed the beauty and sorrow, gentleness and tenacity of this character vividly.

Chen Xiaoxu became a classic with her role as Lin Daiyu and her achievements in the advertising industry. Her talent and spirituality will always be remembered by the audience.

　　

Cao Xueqin created Lin Daiyu with words, while Chen Xiaoxu brought her to life through her performance. A dream, a classic of the Dream of the Red Chamber, Chen Xiaoxu’s performance made it eternal, and her Lin Daiyu will also be remembered in history, and even if the film version is released again, it will be difficult to surpass it.