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"The Dream of the Red Chamber" (also known as "The Story of the Stone") is one of China''s Four Great Classical Novels and is considered one of the greatest works of Chinese literature. It was written by Cao Xueqin during the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century. The novel is a sprawling epic that explores themes of love, family, societal hierarchy, and the inevitability of change. Set against the backdrop of the decline of a powerful family, the Jia clan, the story follows the lives of its members, particularly the two young cousins Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, as they navigate the complexities of relationships, duty, and personal desires. At its heart, "The Dream of the Red Chamber" is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the transient beauty of the world. The title itself refers to the grand estate where much of the action takes place, symbolizing both the splendor and the fragility of existence. The novel is celebrated for its richly drawn characters, intricate plotlines, and profound philosophical insights. It has had a profound influence on Chinese literature and culture, inspiring countless adaptations in various art forms and continuing to captivate readers worldwide with its timeless exploration of the human condition.

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 Debt of Tears is the fourth, 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 Empress Nu Wo, (the goddess of works, ) in fashioning blocks of stones, for the repair of the heavens, prepared, at the Ta Huang Hills and Wu Ch''i cave, 36,501 blocks of rough stone, each twelve chang in height, and twenty-four chang square. Of these stones, the Empress Wo only used 36,500; so that one single block remained over and above, without being turned to any account. This was cast down the Ch''ing Keng peak. This stone, strange to say, after having undergone a process of refinement, attained a nature of efficiency, and could, by its innate powers, set itself into motion and was able to expand and to contract. When it became aware that the whole number of blocks had been made use of to repair the heavens, that it alone had been destitute of the necessary properties and had been unfit to attain selection, it forthwith felt within itself vexation and shame, and day and night, it gave way to anguish and sorrow. One day, while it lamented its lot, it suddenly caught sight, at a great distance, of a Buddhist bonze and of a Taoist priest coming towards that direction. Their appearance was uncommon, their easy manner remarkable. When they drew near this Ch''ing Keng peak, they sat on the ground to rest, and began to converse. But on noticing the block newly-polished and brilliantly clear, which had moreover contracted in dimensions, and become no larger than the pendant of a fan, they were greatly filled with admiration. The Buddhist priest picked it up, and laid it in the palm of his hand. "Your appearance," he said laughingly, "may well declare you to be a supernatural object, but as you lack any inherent quality it is necessary to inscribe a few characters on you, so that every one who shall see you may at once recognise you to be a remarkable thing. And subsequently, when you will be taken into a country where honour and affluence will reign, into a family cultured in mind and of official status, in a land where flowers and trees shall flourish with luxuriance, in a town of refinement, renown and glory; when you once will have been there..." The stone listened with intense delight...""

This eBook has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Dream of the Red Chamber provides a detailed, episodic record of life in the two branches of the wealthy, aristocratic Jia clan—the Rongguo House and the Ningguo House—who reside in two large, adjacent family compounds in the capital. Their ancestors were made Dukes and given imperial titles, and as the novel begins the two houses are among the most illustrious families in the city. One of the clan''s offspring is made a Royal Consort, and a lush landscaped garden is built to receive her visit. In the novel''s frame story, a sentient Stone, abandoned by the goddess Nüwa when she mended the heavens aeons ago, begs a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk to take it with them to see the world.

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''.

Dream of the Red Chamber, also 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. Long considered a masterpiece of Chinese literature, the novel is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of Chinese fiction. "Redology" is the field of study devoted exclusively to this work. The title has also been translated as Red Chamber Dream and A Dream of Red Mansions. The novel circulated in manuscript copies with various titles until its print publication, in 1791. Gao E, who prepared the first and second printed editions with his partner Cheng Weiyuan in 1791–92, added 40 additional chapters to complete the novel. Red Chamber is believed to be semi-autobiographical, mirroring the rise and decline 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 damsels 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 society.

e-artnow presents to you this meticulously edited and formatted collection of the greatest world classics: Les Misérables (Victor Hugo) The Call of the Wild (Jack London) Walden (Henry David Thoreau) Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy) Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoevsky) Art of War (Sun Tzu) Dead Souls (Nikolai Gogol) Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes) Dona Perfecta (Benito Pérez Galdós) A Doll''s House (Henrik Ibsen) Gitanjali (Rabindranath Tagore) The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes (Anonymous) Life is a Dream (Pedro Calderon de la Barca) The Divine Comedy (Dante) Decameron (Giovanni Boccaccio) The Prince (Machiavelli) Arabian Nights Hamlet (Shakespeare) Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare) Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen) Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë) Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) Ulysses (James Joyce) Pygmalion (George Bernard Shaw) Ivanhoe (Sir Walter Scott) Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson) Peter and Wendy (J. M. Barrie) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) Moby-Dick (Herman Melville) Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) The Raven (Edgar Allan Poe) Anne of Green Gables (L. M. Montgomery) Iliad & Odyssey (Homer) The Republic (Plato) Faust, a Tragedy (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) Siddhartha (Herman Hesse) Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Friedrich Nietzsche) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne) Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Jules Verne) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Victor Hugo) The Flowers of Evil (Charles Baudelaire) The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) The Poison Tree (Bankim Chandra Chatterjee) Shakuntala (Kalidasa) Rámáyan of Válmíki (Válmíki) Tao Te Ching (Laozi) The Analects of Confucius (Confucius) Hung Lou Meng or, The Dream of the Red Chamber (Cao Xueqin) Two Years in the Forbidden City (Princess Der Ling) Bushido, the Soul of Japan (Inazo Nitobé) The Book of Tea (Kakuzo Okakura) Botchan (Soseki Natsume)…

180 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.2) presents a kaleidoscope of themes and narratives, weaving together a tapestry of literary styles spanning centuries and continents. This anthology showcases the breadth of human creativity and thought, capturing the essence of varied cultural milieus. It includes compelling stories, philosophical musings, poetic explorations, and seminal essays, bringing forth a collection that remains a testament to timeless questions and emotions. Noteworthy works explore themes such as the complexity of human nature, the interplay between society and the individual, and the relentless pursuit of truth and beauty, encapsulating the vast human experience in various narrative forms. The anthology draws from an impressive array of authors, each contributing a unique voice to the global literary stage, from Goethe''s Romanticism to Dostoyevsky''s psychological depth. The collection reverberates with influences from the Victorian era, realism, modernism, and beyond, featuring an international cast of literary icons such as Virginia Woolf, Dante, and Cao Xueqin. Each author, grounded in their cultural and historical contexts, brings forward their perspective, culminating in a rich and diversified dialogue that echoes the creative evolutions and revolutions of their respective periods. 180 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.2) is an essential compendium for any literary enthusiast eager to immerse themselves in a plethora of insights and styles. It offers a unique opportunity to traverse world cultures through the lens of some of literature''Äôs most profound thinkers and storytellers. For scholars and casual readers alike, this anthology promises a rewarding journey across the panorama of literary excellence, sparking reflection and connection through its multifaceted narratives. Engage with this collection to explore, learn, and appreciate the interconnected dialogues of literary genius.

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. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.