Dream of the Red Chamber or The Story of the Stone is an 18th-century Chinese novel authored by Cao Xueqin, considered to be one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It is known for its psychological scope and its observation of the worldview, aesthetics, lifestyles, and social relations of High Qing China.
A page from the "Jimao manuscript" (one of the Rouge versions) of the novel, 1759.
The "Jiaxu manuscript", 1754
A piece from a series of brush paintings by the Qing dynasty artist Sun Wen (1818–1904), depicting a scene from the novel.
The High Qing era, or simply the High Qing, refers to the golden age of the Qing dynasty between 1683 and 1799. China was ruled by the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Emperors in this period, during which the prosperity and power of the empire grew to new heights.
Territory under the control of the Qing Empire in 1832.
Kangxi Emperor showcasing his Manchu style horse riding
Examples of the high quality porcelain that was mass produced during the High Qing era