For no reason he seeks sorrow and courts resentment;
At times he seems a fool, at times a madman.
Though born with a fine appearance,
His mind is stuffed with weeds.
Inept and ignorant of worldly affairs,
Stubborn and afraid of reading proper texts.
His behavior is eccentric, his nature perverse—
What does he care for the world's slander!
Annotation
One of two Xi Jiang Yue lyrics that accompany Baoyu's first appearance in Chapter 3. Ostensibly 'mocking' Baoyu, it actually uses a 'seeming criticism, real praise' technique to portray his rebellious nature: indifferent to fame, ignorant of worldly ways, fiercely independent. 'His mind is stuffed with weeds' is ironic.
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