Dream of the Red Chamber

The greatest novel of manners in Chinese literature is The Dream of the Red Chamber. The Story of the Stone which is divided into five chapters traces the rise and fall of the illustrious Jia family. Using positive Buddhist beliefs this work recreates the ritualised chaos of Chinese family life that would otherwise be lost. Dream of the Red Chamber a Chinese Romeo and Juliet love story and a portrayal of one of the worlds great civilizations has been hailed in China for more than a century and a half as the best of its books. The translation by Chi-chen Wang is proficient precise and intriguing.