Dream of the Red Chamber (Volume 1 and 2): Colored Illustrations by Renowned Artists - A Collectible Edition of the Four Great Classical Novels

Author: Cao Xueqin [Qing], Gao E, Kang Qiao, etc. (ed.), Cheng Shifa, etc. (illustrations)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-12-01
Features: Cao Xueqin is one of the greatest and most complex writers in Chinese literary history, and Dream of the Red Chamber is also one of the greatest and most complex works in Chinese literary history. The linguistic artistry of Dream of the Red Chamber represents the pinnacle of classical Chinese novelistic language. The author often needs only a few words to sketch a vivid character with distinct personality traits. Every typical character's language in the novel possesses its own unique individuality, enabling readers to distinguish characters solely through their speech. The author's narrative language also exhibits a high degree of artistic expression. The poetry, songs, and couplets in the novel not only blend seamlessly with the narrative but also serve to shape the characters' personalities, achieving the ideal of "poetry reflecting the person." Due to these outstanding achievements in various aspects, Dream of the Red Chamber has its own fresh and original character, both in terms of ideological content and artistic technique, possessing enduring artistic charm and standing firmly among the world's literary works without any inferiority.
Dream of the Red Chamber follows the tragic love story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu as its central thread, realistically depicting the rise and fall of the Jia family to expose the debauchery and corruption of the feudal ruling class. It broadly reflects the social life of the late feudal era, demonstrating the inevitable collapse and demise of the feudal system. The work praises the sincere love, rebellious nature, and democratic aspirations of the protagonists, expresses deep sympathy for the oppressed, and mercilessly exposes the feudal exploiters and sanctimonious figures. It portrays a series of typical characters such as Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, and Wang Xifeng, each with rich personalities, meticulous descriptions, and lifelike portrayals. The novel combines both typical settings and authentic details, reaching the pinnacle of Chinese classical realist long novels and achieving extraordinary artistic success.
This book is a colored illustration edition of Dream of the Red Chamber from the "Treasured Collection" series of the Four Great Classical Novels, featuring the rise and fall of the four feudal families—Jia, Wang, Xue, and Shi. To facilitate the popularization of this classical masterpiece and enhance its collectible value, renowned painters such as Cheng Shifa were invited to create exquisite illustrations for this edition. The book is printed with high quality, adhering to international standards, in a large 16-page format with a luxurious binding. It is an extremely rare and valuable literary treasure, possessing exceptional collectible appeal.