There is a plot in A Dream of Red Mansions in which Jia Baoyu dreamed of Zhen Baoyu. What is Cao Xueqin's intention?

In A Dream of Red Mansions, Jia Baoyu dreamed that meeting Zhen Baoyu was an important part of the whole story, which showed Jia Baoyu's true feelings and exploration of self-cognition.

This plot plays multiple roles in the novel. First of all, it shows Jia Baoyu's doubts and troubles about Zhen Baoyu, because they are very similar in appearance and personality, which makes Jia Baoyu doubt his true identity. Secondly, this dream reveals some desires and fears in Jia Baoyu's subconscious, such as aversion to the secular, pursuit of freedom and desire for love.

In addition, this plot also reflects Cao Xueqin's profound thinking on self-cognition and identity. By comparing Jia Baoyu and Zhen Baoyu, Cao Xueqin reveals the complex relationship between people's self-identity and the outside world, as well as the challenges individuals face in the process of seeking self-cognition.

Generally speaking, Jia Baoyu's dream of meeting Zhen Baoyu is an important symbolic scene in A Dream of Red Mansions, which not only reveals Jia Baoyu's inner world, but also plays an important role in promoting the theme and atmosphere of the whole novel.