Allegory

(n.)

a story, play, picture, etc. in which each character or event is a symbol representing an idea or a quality, such as truth, evil, death, etc.; the use of such symbols

寓言；讽喻；寓言体；讽喻法

e.g. a political allegory

政治讽喻

e.g. the poet's use of allegory

诗人的讽喻手法

e.g. In writing this story of the Stone the author wanted to record certain of his past dreams and illusions, but he tried to hide the true facts of his experience by using the allegory of the jade of "Spiritual Understanding."  Hence his recourse to names like Chen Shih-yin.

作者自云，因曾历过一番梦幻之后，故将真事隐去，而借“通灵”字说，撰此石头记一书也。故曰“甄士隐”云云。

Xinyi Translation Studio