Cao Xueqin, a member of an eminent family that had served the Qing dynasty emperors but whose fortunes had begun to decline, began composing Dream of the Red Chamber during the 1740s.
Cao Xueqin, membro dunha eminente familia que servira a dinastía Qing pero cunha fortuna que comezara a declinar, escribiuna durante a década de 1740.