Researchers in the National Museum noted that the artworks have a high artistic value because they were created in accordance with the scenarios, the figures and the architectural characteristics described in the original novel, which provides rare evidence into research on A Dream of Red Mansions.
“This is a cultural treasure of Dalian, providing a new research carrier for studying A Dream of Red Mansions as well as folk painting of the late Qing Dynasty…” Liang Guizhi was thrilled after visiting the exhibition in Lvshun. He is a professor at Liaoning Normal University who has been engaged in research on A Dream of Red Mansions for more than 30 years.
Enigmatical riddle 
The painting style of the pictures took an abrupt turn between the 80th and 81st chapter, as if indicating the first 80 chapters and the remaining 40 were written by different people. Liu Guangtang regards this as an intended arrangement by the artist.
But why is there one blank volume? According to an analysis of the original chapters in the novel, the original album should have 240 pages or 240 pictures, but now only 230 pages remain. Where are the lost 10 pages and what are they?
“It is still an enigmatic riddle,” Liu said.
（Source: chinaculture.org）
