Cao Xueqin (1715-1763) was born into a wealthy family that thrived during the Qing Dynasty. Following their patriarch's death, the family lost their fortune and moved to Beijing. It's there that Xueqin began creating his greatest work, The Story of the Stone, also known as Dream of the Red Chamber. Hand-copied versions were already circulating before its initial printing in 1791. It is a beloved novel and masterpiece within Chinese literature that gained massive acclaim after Xueqin's death.
