Best Selling Books by Cao Xueqin

The Dream of the Red Chamber, a cornerstone of Chinese literature, intricately weaves a tapestry of family dynamics, societal expectations, and the intricacies of love within the framework of 18th-century Qing Dynasty China. Cao Xueqin employs a rich literary style, characterized by lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and profound psychological depth, to illustrate the poignant realities of human existence. The narrative, which revolves around the rise and fall of the Jia family, delves into themes of fate, fleeting beauty, and the illusory nature of wealth, thus positioning itself against the backdrop of a society grappling with change and decline. Cao Xueqin, born into a once-illustrious family that faced financial ruin, infused his own life experiences into this semi-autobiographical work. His background provided him with a keen insight into the complexities of social hierarchy and familial affections, which serve as the novel''s backbone. Furthermore, his deep engagement with Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucian philosophy informs the metaphysical undercurrents that permeate the narrative, making it a reflective exploration of existence. I highly recommend The Dream of the Red Chamber to readers who seek a profound exploration of human emotions and societal complexities. Its nuanced characters and intricate plot will captivate those interested in classic literature, offering timeless wisdom that resonates well beyond its historical context.

For generations, the Jia family is held in high esteem but when they lose favor with the emperor, their luxury lifestyle comes to an end. The Story of the Stone focuses on internal and external conflicts that arise as they adjust to their unexpected plight. Jia Baoyu is heir to a prestigious family, that’s held multiple imperial titles throughout the years. Despite their history and social standing, they are targeted by the emperor who strips them of their land and personal fortune. As the family’s wealth wanes, the young Jia struggles with his affection for his cousin Lin Daiyu, as he’s already engaged to Xue Baochai. It’s a compelling romance drama set against the family’s economic decline. Revered for centuries, The Story of the Stone is one of the Four Classic Novels in Chinese literature. It’s a depiction of pre-modern times that is both bleak and illuminating. Cao Xueqin delivers a piercing commentary on the duplicity of the social and political structure. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Story of the Stone is both modern and readable.

Hong Lou Meng also called Dream of the Red Chamber or called The Story of the Stone, composed by Cao Xueqin, is one of China''s Four Great Classical Novels. It was written sometime in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature and is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of Chinese fiction. The book is Chinese Simple Characters version.

"The Story of the Stone" (c. 1760), also known as "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin''s magnificent saga, "The Dreamer Awakes", was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life, Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision, which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream, ''as moonlight mirrored in the water''.

One of China''s Four Great Classical Novels, "The Dream of the Red Chamber" is perhaps the greatest novel written in the Chinese vernacular. Its authorship is attributed to Cao Xueqin, who lived sometime from the early to mid-eighteenth century. Little is known of Cao Xueqin, except from what was passed down from his contemporaries and friends. An intelligent and artistic man, known for both his poetry and his paintings, Xueqin spent a decade working diligently on "The Dream of the Red Chamber". The result is a wonderfully vivid story of the powerful rise, and subsequent fall, of the Jia clan, an illustrious family representative of the eighteenth century Chinese aristocracy. The novel is said to be semi-autobiographical, and is noted for its detailed observations of the social classes, as well as its deeply psychological explorations of themes like morality, feudalism and Confucianism, sexual deviance, fraternal jealousies, and the unwillingness to grow up. It is a timeless story that will continue to be revered by readers the world over.

One of the Four Main Classical Novels of China, A Dream of Red Mansions is the only novel to address the role of women in China’s history. This tragic romance is brought to life with the delicate penstrokes of local artist Seraphina Lum, in her debut graphic novel.

Subsequent to the visions of a dream which he had experienced, the writer relates, he concealed the true circumstances and borrowed the attributes of perception and spirituality to relate this story of the Record of the Stone. With this purpose, he made use of such designations as Chen Shih-yin (truth under the garb of fiction) and the like.

The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. Divided into five volumes, The Story of the Stone charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family. This novel re-creates the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life that would otherwise be lost and infuses it with affirming Buddhist belief. --from publisher description.

"The Story of the Stone" (c. 1760), also known as "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin''s magnificent saga, "The Dreamer Awakes", was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life, Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision, which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream, ''as moonlight mirrored in the water''.

Also known as A Dream of Red Mansions, The Story of the Stone, or Chronicles of the Stone; Hung Lou Meng, or, The Dream of the Red Chamber is usually grouped with three other pre-modern Chinese works of fiction, collectively known as the Four Great Classical Novels, and is often taken to be the zenith of classical Chinese fiction.

The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature. Divided into five volumes, of which The Warning Voice is the third, it charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family (a story which closely accords with the fortunes of the author''s own family). The two main characters, Bao-yu and Dai-yu, are set against a rich tapestry of humour, realistic detail and delicate poetry, which accurately reflects the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life. But over and above the novel hangs the constant reminder that there is another plane of existence - a theme which affirms the Buddhist belief in a supernatural scheme of things.

The Story of the Stone (c.1760) is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The first part of the story, The Golden Days, begins the tale of Bao-yu, a gentle young boy who prefers girls to Confucian studies, and his two cousins: Bao-chai, his parents'' choice of a wife for him, and the ethereal beauty Dai-yu. Through the changing fortunes of the Jia family, this rich, magical work sets worldly events - love affairs, sibling rivalries, political intrigues, even murder - within the context of the Buddhist understanding that earthly existence is an illusion and karma determines the shape of our lives.

Dream of the Red Chamber is one of China''s Four Great Classical Novels. It was written in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature and is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of Chinese fiction. "Redology" is the field of study devoted exclusively to this work.Red Chamber is believed to be semi-autobiographical, mirroring the rise and decay of author Cao Xueqin''s own family and, by extension, of the Qing Dynasty. As the author details in the first chapter, it is intended to be a memorial to the women he knew in his youth: friends, relatives and servants. The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese aristocracy.