Implied Meanings and Functions of Brother Guan and Brother Xiao
in “The Golden Lotus”
By Shi Ye
[Abstract] The eldest son of Xi Men qing is named Brother Guan (Guan means official.), showing his life-long desire for power as well as his eager expectation of his son's future career. It is a symbol of “Ru Shi" which means “to enter the world and commit oneself to a career". Brother Xiao (Xiao means filial piety.)was born at the time Xi Men qing died. The name was meant to show off his wise inheriting family property and excellent fulfilling his filial duty. But his home ruining and leaving home and becoming a monk symbolize “leaving the mundane world". Both Brother Guan and Brother Xiao died before fulfilling Xi Men-qing’s dreams. The destinies of them could not be more ironical.
[Key words] The Golden Lotus Brother Guan Brother Xiao implied meanings