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1724 – 1763 · Nanjing
Cao Xueqin
Cao Xueqin spent ten hungry years turning a lost childhood into the book China loves most.
Born Nanjing
About
Cao Xueqin was born around 1724, into a family that had once been powerful and rich. His ancestors served the Qing emperors as textile commissioners in Nanjing, a trusted and lucrative post. But when Cao was still young, the family fell from favor. Their property was confiscated, and they slid into poverty.
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Illustrations are created with AI assistance. Summaries are written with AI and reviewed by the editor. Book metadata comes from Wikidata and Open Library.