Paginec. 1715–1763 · Nanjing, China · also known as Tsao Hsueh-chin
Cao Xueqin grew up in a wealthy family that lost everything, and spent his last years in poverty writing Dream of the Red Chamber (also called The Story of the Stone). The novel follows the decline of the aristocratic Jia family and the love between Jia Baoyu and his cousin Lin Daiyu, with hundreds of characters. Published in 1791 with a completion by Gao E, it is widely considered the greatest Chinese novel.
Begin with Dream of the Red Chamber.
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Cao Xueqin grew up in a wealthy family that lost everything, and spent his last years in poverty writing Dream of the Red Chamber (also called The Story of the Stone). The novel follows the decline of the aristocratic Jia family and the love between Jia Baoyu and his cousin Lin Daiyu, with hundreds of characters.
Dream of the Red Chamber is usually considered Cao Xueqin’s best-known work.
Most readers start with Dream of the Red Chamber.
Both refer to the same writer.
Many of Cao Xueqin’s works are in the public domain; we link to free editions below.