redology

Etymology

From red + -ology.

redology means the study of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the four classic Chinese literary works. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 89 out of 100.

Why “redology” is a great word

REDOLOGY — [Noun] The exhaustive academic discipline devoted to the study of the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, its textual history, authorship, and cultural impact. From the English word 'red' (referring to the 'Red Chamber' of the novel's title) + the combining form '-ology' (denoting a subject of study). Unlike sinology, which surveys the vast continent of Chinese civilization, or literary criticism, which applies general interpretive tools, redology is a cathedral built around a single, sacred text. It is the scent of aged paper in a debate over a corrupted character, the decades-long biographical speculation about a ghostwriter's hand, and the quiet fervor of tracing the lineage of a lost embroidery pattern—a testament to how a profound dream can become a world, demanding its own dedicated science.

noun

The study of the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the four classic Chinese literary works.