Xueqin Cao
紅樓夢
"紅樓夢" by Xueqin Cao is an 18th-century Chinese novel written in the 1740s until his death in 1763 or 1764. It chronicles the rise and decline of an aristocratic family during the Qing dynasty, reflecting the fate of the empire itself. While depicting patriarchal power, the novel serves as a memorial to the women Cao knew in his youth. The work explores profound religious and philosophical questions through intricate plotting, psychological depth, and vivid observation of High Qing society, becoming one of China's Four Great Classic Novels.