The Story of the Stone" (c. 1760) also known as " The Dream of the Red Chamber" is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqins magnificent saga " The Dreamer Awakes" was carefully edited & completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty focussing on Bao-yu now married to Bao-chai after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death financial ruin marriage decadence & corruption his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream as moonlight mirrored in the water."