Role Play

Dream of the Red Chamber

by Cao Xueqin

About this book

The Jia family's twin mansions, Rongguo and Ningguo, where a boy born with jade in his mouth grows up in a garden full of brilliant girls, and no one around him can see the fall that's coming. Eight ways in, from a monk's warning outside a village temple to the snow where he finally walks away from it all.

Characters in this book

Jia Baoyu (贾宝玉)A face round as the full moon, tender eyes | Rejects fame and rank, cherishes girls | Smashes the jade to display his madness
Jia Mu (贾母)Snow-white hair, dressed in finery | Majestic, loving, and central to the family | Dotes on her grandchildren and loves lively company
Wang Xifeng (王熙凤)Phoenix eyes and triangular gaze, willow-leaf brows | Extraordinary presence, brisk and formidable | Laughs before speaking, swift and forceful in action
Lin Daiyu (林黛玉)Smoke-wreathed brows drawn together, frail as a willow | Sensitive and pensive, supremely gifted
Xiren (袭人)Warm, steady, and thorough | Utterly loyal, worried about Baoyu | Gentle in speech, measured in conduct
Xue Baochai (薛宝钗)Lustrous flesh and bones, elegant bearing | Gentle, quiet, and accepting of her lot | Tactful in affairs, subtle and meticulous

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