Hong lou xin meng A Dream of Red Mansions

The novel provides a detailed, episodic record of life in the two branches of the wealthy, aristocratic Jia (賈) clan. It charts the Jias' fall from the height of their prestige, following some thirty main characters and over four hundred minor ones. The main character of the novel is the carefree adolescent male heir of the family, Jia Baoyu.