Most Popular Books by Cao Xueqin

Dream of the Red Chamber or The Story of the Stone is an 18th-century Chinese novel authored by Cao Xueqin, considered to be one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It is known for its psychological scope and its observation of the worldview, aesthetics, lifestyles, and social relations of High Qing China. The intricate strands of its plot depict the rise and decline of a family much like Cao''s own and, by extension, of the dynasty itself. Cao depicts the power of the father over the family, but the novel is intended to be a memorial to the women he knew in his youth: friends, relatives and servants. At a more profound level, the author explores religious and philosophical questions, and the writing style includes echoes of the plays and novels of the late Ming, as well as poetry from earlier periods.

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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 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 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''.

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.

180 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.2) offers an unparalleled journey through the rich tapestry of human creativity and intellectual endeavor, spanning continents, centuries, and an array of literary styles. From the intricate narratives of ancient epics to the introspective explorations of modernism, this anthology showcases the diversity of human thought and emotion through works that have fundamentally shaped the course of literature and society. Standout pieces include seminal works by literary giants such as Dante and Dostoyevsky, alongside transformative texts from Confucius to Virginia Woolf, bridging the realms of fiction, philosophy, and beyond, and illuminating the myriad ways in which literature mirrors, critiques, and shapes the world. The contributing authors and editors, hailing from diverse cultural, geographical, and temporal backgrounds, together encapsulate the breadth of human experience and intellectual pursuit. This collection aligns with key literary movementsfrom the Enlightenment to Romanticism, Realism to Modernismwhile also transcending them to offer a more holistic appreciation of literary evolution. The anthology weaves a complex narrative of human progress, struggle, and insight, reflecting the shifts in social, political, and personal paradigms across ages, facilitated by the literary mastery of figures from Jane Austen to James Joyce, Leo Tolstoy to George Bernard Shaw. 180 Masterpieces of World Literature (Vol.2) is an essential read for those seeking to immerse themselves in the depth and diversity of global literary heritage. It offers readers the unique opportunity to explore an expansive array of perspectives, themes, and stylistic approaches, all within a single volume. This collection is not only an educational resource but a testament to the enduring power of literature to connect disparate voices across time and space, inviting readers into a dialogic encounter with history''s most profound thinkers and storytellers. For scholars, students, and avid readers alike, this anthology is a gateway to a world of insight, inspiration, and intellectual exploration.

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)…

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.