The Story of the Stone: The Crab-Flower Club (Volume II)"The Story of the Stone" (c. 1760), also known as "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin's magnificent saga, "The Dreamer Awakes", was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life, Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision, which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream, 'as moonlight mirrored in the water'. |
Common terms and phrases
already Aroma arrived asked Aunt Xue Bao-chai Bao-yu began better called carrying chapter coming course Cousin Dai-yu don’t drink eyes face Faithful feel Feng flowers followed four Garden gate gave getting girl give gone Grandmother Jia Grannie Liu Green hand happened head hear heard hurried inside It’s keep Lady Wang Ladyship laughed leave Lian look maids Master means mind Miss mother never night once Patience person play poem present rest returned round seemed sent servants side Skybright smiled someone soon sort standing suppose sure talking Tan-chun tell There’s things thought told took turned wait wife woman women Xi-feng Xiang-yun Xing Xue Pan young Zhen