Cao xueqin interesting stories about famous people. The story of the stone is essential reading in china, yet this great work. One particular book has caught my eye over the years, and the other day i bought it volume 1 of cao xueqin s eighteenth century epic, the story of the stone. Apr 07, 2014 dream of the red chamber also red chamber dream, hung lou meng, originally the story of the stone, is a masterpiece of chinese literature and one of the chinese four great classical novels. One of the more popular vernacular forms of literature was cao xueqins, the story of the stone which is said to deal with issues concerning intellectual, artistic, and sexual aspirations in life. Cao xueqin 171563 was born into a family which for three generations held the office of commissioner of imperial textiles in nanking, a family so wealthy they were able to entertain the emperor four times. Cao xueqin, a member of an eminent family that had served the qing dynasty emperors but whose fortunes had begun to decline, began composing dream of the red chamber during the 1740s. The story of the stone the dream of the red chamber. Reading modern china learnenglish teens british council. Xueqin cao quotes author of dream of the red chamber. The fifth part of cao xueqin s magnificent saga, the dreamer awakes, was carefully edited and completed by gao e some decades later. Another translation dream of red chamber by cao xueqin.
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 authors own. This 63page guide for dream of the red chamber by cao xueqin includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 26 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The story of the stone by cao xueqin overdrive rakuten. Chinese scholars like to compare cao xueqin to shakespeare and have subjected his novel to similarly intense analysis a field known as redology, but a. The fifth part of cao xueqins magnificent saga, the dreamer awakes, was carefully edited and completed by gao e some. Find the story of the stone by cao, xueqin at biblio. The film displays an honest and natural depiction of the gay life in taipei, as well as exploring despair and hope. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Children and youth in history the story of the stone. Dream of the red chamber also red chamber dream, hung lou meng, originally the story of the stone, is a masterpiece of chinese literature and one of the chinese four great classical novels. It was written sometime in the middle of the 18th century during the qing dynasty. The story of the stone wikisource, the free library.
The story of the stone the dream of the red chamber cao. Nov 01, 2017 dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone and a dream of red mansions, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. It looked interesting, and since it was old i figured i could get a free pdf copy for my kindle i have a kindle, but i only use it to read free books. The fifth part of cao xueqins magnificent saga, the dreamer awakes, was it continues the story of the changing fortunes of the jia dynasty. It sets worldly events love affairs, sibling rivalries, even murder within the context of the buddhist understanding that karma determines the shape of. Every day was spent in the company of his maids and cousins in the most amiable and delightful occupations, such as. At this point of time, china did not have a traditional dramatic form of literature. It was written some time in the middle of the 18th century during the qing dynasty. This story is told against the backdrop of a fictional magical stone that has been brought to life in the character of the mischievous boy baoyu.
Divided into five volumes, the story of the stone charts the glory and decline of the illustrious jia family. These narratives, stories and conversations initiated the whole novel, introduced the main characters, and also allowed readers get to know the background and the relationships of the characters. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the story of the stone. The story of the stone the dream of the red chamber cao xueqin. The first three, translated by david hawkes, are the original 80 chapter work which circulated in various partial manuscripts, possibly before as well as after cao xueqins death in 1764. The dream of the red chamber, is the great novel of manners in chinese literature. Cao xueqin 1715 or 17241764 was a chinese writer during the qing dynasty. His representative worka dream of red mansionswas written in the latter half of the 18th century, which is not only a great chinese novel but also a gem of world 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 authors own family. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. The story of the stone by cao xueqin eleven and a half.
The book was dream of the red chamber, also known as the story of the stone, written by cao xueqin. Through his novel, cao xueqin also attempts to describe the lifestyle of this wealthy chinese family. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the jia dynasty, focussing on baoyu, now married to baochai, after the tragic. Starr wus debut feature is a strikingly modern adaptation of one of chinas four great classics from cao xueqin s 18th century novel dream of the red chamber, set in taipeis iconic lgbt location red house. The story of the stone great works of literature ii. Cao xueqin, as quoted in the introduction attributed to his younger brother cao tangcun to the first chapter of dream of the red chamber, present in the jiaxu 1754 version the earliestknown manuscript copy of the novel, translated by david hawkes in the story of the stone. As is mentioned in the first chapter, the story of the stone is primarily a love story. Also known as the story of the stone, written by cao xueqin, is one of the best cao xueqin popular classical novels. The story of the stone also know as the dream of the red. Yeah, even many books are offered, this book can steal the reader heart in view of that much. Vol 3, the warning voice penguin classics by xueqin, cao from amazons fiction books store. Based on his own interpretation of the concepts of qi life force, energy and qing compassion, empathy, his psychology allowed for complex characters and his portrayal of women was quite a radical departure from earlier literature.
His personal name was zhan, and his style name mengruan. Cao xueqin book was inscribed in the mid of the 18th century in the qing dynasty. The content and theme of this book in reality will be next to your heart. The golden days volume i ebook written by cao xueqin. Cao xueqin 17151763 was a great writer in the qing dynasty 16441911. The story of the stone is full of personal narratives, third person description of others stories, and conversations. It is generally acknowledged as the highest peak of the. Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, or hongloumeng simplified chinese. The fifth part of cao xueqins magnificent saga, the dreamer awakes, was carefully edited and completed by gao e some decades later. Although little is known of his personal life, cao xueqin or tsao hsuehchin is considered to be chinas greatest novelist, and hong lou meng a dream of red mansions sometimes the story of the stone. It is generally acknowledged as the highest peak of the classical chinese novels.
It is renowned for its huge scope, large cast of characters and telling observations on the life and social structures of 18th century china and is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the classical chinese novel. Long considered a masterpiece of chinese literature, the novel is generally acknowledged to be the pinnacle of chinese fiction. Cao xueqin considered one of the greatest works of chinese literature, this fivepart story charts the changing fortunes of the jia family. Join colleagues from across the campus to continue discussion of cao xueqins the story of the stone this session will focus on chapter 26, a conversation on wasp waist bridge is a cover for communication of a different kind and a soliloquy overheard in the naiads house reveals unsuspected depths of feeling.
The dream of the red chamber is one of the four great classical novels of chinese literature. It looked interesting, and since it was old i figured i could get a free pdf copy for my kindle i have a kindle, but i. Like next on the programme was a wife eats husks, from the story of the lute. It was composed in the mid 18th century during the qing dynasty, attributed to cao xueqin. The story of the stone is divided into five volumes in this translation for penguin classics. This novel recreates the ritualized hurlyburly of chinese family life that would otherwise be lost. The story of the stone is the first volume of a five volume series that tells the story of the prestigious chinese jia family. Top 10 books by cao xueqin best book recommendations, best. The dream of the red chamber or the story of the stone, cao xueqin 1868 this 19thcentury novel is so long that it has been split into five volumes for its modern publications. It was written sometime in the middle of the 18th century during the qing dynasty, and the setting of the story is early in the 18th century. The story of the stone, also known by the title of the dream of the red chamber, is the great novel of manners in chinese literature.
An unconventional, versatile man, he came from an eminent and wealthy family which suffered a reversal of fortune in 1728 after the death of the kangxi emperor and a power struggle between his sons. The problem is, that so many romances contain slanderous anecdotes about sovereigns and ministers or cast aspersions upon mans wives and daughters. Dream of the red chamber wikisource, the free online library. Cao xueqin was born around 1715 and died 12 february 1763. The story of the stone by cao xueqin is another instance for me of me and my big mouth, as bugs bunny frequently said the latter phrase, not the entire sentence. It generally considered as one of chinas four great classical novels. I spend a lot of time wandering through bookstores. The red chamber is an expression used for the sheltered area where the daughters. Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. Aug 29, 20 the story of the stone by cao xueqin is another instance for me of me and my big mouth, as bugs bunny frequently said the latter phrase, not the entire sentence. The story of the stone by cao xueqin penguin books australia. Like most common people oft he marketplace much prefer light literature to improving books. The first part of the story, the golden days, begins the tale of baoyu, a gentle young boy who prefers girls to confucian studies, and his two cousins. Considered one of the greatest works of chinese literature, this fivepart story charts the changing fortunes of the jia family.
Dream of the red chamber, also called the story of the stone, or hongloumeng composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. The story of the stone wikisource, the free online library. The story of the stone is a homage to the girls and women cao xueqin knew in his youth, but it is not a simple idealisation. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the story of the stone, or the dream of the red chamber. However, calamity overtook them and their property was consfiscated. Dream of the red chamber s textual history is involved and complex, and has long been a subject of critical scrutiny, debate, and conjecture. Indeed, xueqin titled the first, eightychapter version of the novel the story of the stone, which shows the importance the author attached to this mythology. Most of what we know about cao was passed down from his contemporaries and friends. It is known for certain that cao yongs only son was born posthumously in 1715. He is best known as the author of dream of the red chamber, one of the four great classical novels of chinese literature. As a developing eighteenth century scholar, i was doubly attracted to it. Cao xueqin was living in poverty when he wrote his famous novel the story of the stone. Vol 1, the golden days penguin classics 1 by xueqin, cao isbn.
The story of the stone, or the dream of the red chamber. The first part of the story, the golden days, begins the tale of baoyu, a. Buy a cheap copy of the golden days book by xueqin cao. Almost 40 main characters and some 500 minor characters tell the.
He came from a welltodo family on the decline like the jias, and a number of autobiographical elements are woven into his great work, the story of the stone. Download pdf the story of the stone cao xueqin pdf free. Hongloumeng, composed by cao xueqin, is one of chinas four great classical novels. The book was left unfinished by the author cao xueqin at his death in.