THE novel provides a detailed, episodic record of the two branches of the wealthy and aristocratic Jia clan in Nanjing.

    Their ancestors were made dukes and one of the clan’s offspring was made an imperial consort. The novel describes the Jias’ wealth and influence in great detail and charts the Jias’ fall from the grace, following some 30 main characters and over 400 minor roles. Eventually the Jia clan falls into disfavor with the emperor, and their mansions are raided and confiscated.

    The main character, Jia Baoyu, is the adolescent heir of the family. He is in love with his sickly cousin, the emotional Lin Daiyu. Baoyu, however, is destined to marry another cousin, Xue Baochai. This love triangle against the backdrop of the family’s declining fortunes forms the most well-known plot line in the story.

    The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of life and social structures typical of 18th-century Chinese aristocracy. (SD News)