《红楼梦》研究的惊天发现：作者曹雪芹故里——贵州思南塘头镇！

Core Viewpoint - The research on "Dream of the Red Chamber" has evolved into a significant academic field known as "Redology," with various schools of thought and numerous scholars contributing to the understanding of the novel's authorship, historical context, and artistic value [1][3][4]. Group 1: Research Schools - The study of "Dream of the Red Chamber" is categorized into four main schools: Commentary School, Poetry School, Verification School, and Hidden Meaning School, each offering diverse interpretations and methodologies [4]. - The Commentary School focuses on personal insights and reflections on the text [4]. - The Poetry School interprets the novel through poetic forms, emphasizing emotional expressions related to the characters [4]. - The Verification School, represented by Hu Shi, employs empirical methods to investigate the authorship and historical context of the novel [4]. - The Hidden Meaning School seeks to uncover concealed meanings through wordplay and associations with historical events [4]. Group 2: Key Scholars and Contributions - Hu Shi is recognized as a leading figure in the "New Redology," establishing the authorship of Cao Xueqin and proposing theories about his life and the novel's creation [6][21]. - Zhou Ruchang's extensive research highlights the influence of Cao Xueqin's family background on his writing, asserting that many characters and events in the novel reflect his personal experiences [8][16]. - Wu Enyu critiques the traditional approaches to Redology, suggesting that many scholars have fallen into the traps of old theories without substantial evidence [9]. - Liu Xinwu has popularized the study of "Dream of the Red Chamber" through media, focusing on character analysis and hidden secrets within the narrative [12]. Group 3: Controversies and Alternative Theories - There are ongoing debates regarding the true authorship of "Dream of the Red Chamber," with some scholars proposing alternative candidates such as Wu Meicun or even suggesting that the author may have been a woman [20][26]. - Recent claims assert that Cao Xueqin may not have been the original author but rather an editor or compiler of the text, raising questions about the validity of established authorship [30][31]. - The historical existence of Cao Xueqin is also questioned, with some suggesting that he may not have left any other literary traces apart from "Dream of the Red Chamber" [24][32].