Dream of the Red Chamber: Illustrated Text (Old Edition, Condition 80%)

Author: (Qing) Cao Xueqin / (Qing) Gao E
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In China, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Journey to the West are widely known as the "Four Great Classical Novels," almost household names known to all. There is a saying in folk lore: "After reading Journey to the West, one can speak; after reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one can scheme; after reading Water Margin, one gains courage." As for Dream of the Red Chamber, it is even said: "To talk idly without mentioning Dream of the Red Chamber is to read all the books in the world in vain." The textual version of Dream of the Red Chamber is based on the Qianlong-era manuscript of the 120-volume Draft of the Red Chamber Dream, while also referencing the "Cheng Jia Edition," "Cheng Yi Edition," "Yimao Edition," "Gengchen Edition," and the Leningrad Manuscript. The illustrations are primarily selected from Enhanced Critiqued and Illustrated Dream of the Red Chamber, Enhanced Critiqued and Illustrated Dream of the Red Chamber, Enhanced Critiqued and Illustrated Jinyu Yuan, Enhanced Engraved Dream of the Red Chamber Illustrated Poems, Newly Critiqued Dream of the Red Chamber, and Nationwide Enhanced Critiqued Jinyu Yuan.
"Utter madness on paper, tears of sorrow in hand!
All say the author is mad, who understands the meaning within?"
A Dream of the Red Chamber, a classic known to all, truly embodies the life's devotion of Cao Xueqin. The novel, with the tragic love story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu as its main thread, weaves the rise and fall of the four great families—Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue. With vivid characters and a poignant love story, it is a timeless masterpiece that can never be fully read or exhausted. This book is a special enhanced illustrated edition. It is specially recommended by the renowned scholar of Chinese classics, Feng Qicong!