Dream of the Red Chamber (Upper and Lower)

Author: Cao Xueqin
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 author's works has its own unique individuality, enabling readers to distinguish characters merely through their speech. The author's narrative language also possesses 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 a fresh and original character both in its ideological content and artistic techniques, possessing an enduring artistic charm that allows it to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's literary giants without any inferiority.
Dream of the Red Chamber follows the tragic love story of Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu as its central thread, depicting the rise and fall of the Jia family with a realistic portrayal, exposing the debauchery and corruption of the feudal ruling class. It broadly reflects the social life of the late feudal society, demonstrating the inevitable collapse and demise of the feudal system. The work praises the sincere love, rebellious nature, and democratic aspirations of the protagonists, shows deep sympathy for the persecuted, 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, all of whom are richly developed, finely depicted, and vividly brought to life. The work combines both typical settings and authentic details, making it the pinnacle of Chinese classical realist long novels and achieving extraordinary artistic success.
This book is a part of the Colorful Illustrations of the Four Great Classical Novels [Treasure Edition], featuring Dream of the Red Chamber. The entire work narrates the rise and fall of the four major feudal families—Jia, Wang, Xue, and Shi. To facilitate the popularization of this classical masterpiece and enhance its collectible value, this book has invited renowned painters such as Cheng Shifa to create exquisite illustrations. 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 treasure, making it highly collectible.