Granny Liu (Chinese: 劉姥姥; pinyin: Liú Lǎolāo) is a personality in Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is an aged nation rustic and a distant relative of Lady Wang by way of “becoming a member of households” and marriage (i.e. they don’t seem to be associated by blood).
Granny Liu’s son-in-regulation’s grandfather was adopted by Lady Wang’s father, therefore the Jia clan turned associated to her son-in-regulation’s household. Granny Liu was entrusted with the duty of calling on Lady Wang by her son-in-regulation Gou’er.
Granny Liu visits the Rongguo Mansion on two events through the novel together with her younger grandson Ban’er. Each time, they supply a pointy distinction to the Jia relations. Nevertheless, she is revered by everybody for her age, hale physique and forthright nature, offering a lot comedian aid, even for the Dowager. Each time, she additionally takes residence many beneficial presents of clothes, cash, meals, household cures, and livestock. In Cheng-Gao ending of the novel, Granny Liu visits Wang Xifeng earlier than she dies and saves Qiaojie from concubinage.
There is an expression generally recognized to trendy Chinese individuals referring to this character within the novel. The expression is: 刘姥姥进大观园. In conventional characters it’s: 劉姥姥進大觀園. In pinyin that is: Liú lǎolao jìn Dàguānyuán. It means “Granny Liu visits the Grand View Gardens”. It refers back to the elements of the novel the place Granny Liu visits the noble household who performs host to her, however which additionally makes enjoyable of her brazenly for her simplicity. (Granny Liu is, nevertheless, grateful for his or her generosity.) The expression is utilized in trendy Chinese to explain somebody, often a easy unsophisticated individual, who’s overwhelmed by new experiences and opulent environment.
