Story Timeline

Jia Yuanchun is named Imperial Consort; she visits the Jia mansion. The origin of the construction of the Grand View Garden; inscriptions at the Visitation Lodge and Grand View Tower.

Daiyu buries fallen flowers near Bamboo Lodge, recites "Elegy for the Fallen Flowers"; Baoyu overhears and is overcome.

Tanchun founds the Crab-Flower Club at Autumn Freshness Studio; Li Wan serves as president.

Miaoyu brews tea with snow-water from plum blossoms at Green Bower Hermitage, serving Baoyu, Daiyu, and Baochai.

Baoyu asks for red plum from Green Bower; Miaoyu gives blossoms; the group admires the plum and composes linked verse.

Baoyu convalesces in Happy Red Court after being beaten; Daiyu, Baochai, and others visit.

Qingwen quarrels with Baoyu in Happy Red Court and tears a fan "for a smile worth a thousand gold".

A night feast of the "flowers" in Happy Red Court; flower-name divination and drinking games.

Daiyu, gravely ill, burns her manuscripts in Bamboo Lodge, severing her attachment.

Rain at night at Bamboo Lodge; Daiyu listens and grieves.

Baochai chases butterflies in the garden; at Dripping Emerald Pavilion she overhears Xiaohong's private talk.

Daiyu and Baochai open their hearts at Alpinia Park and elsewhere, swearing sisterly friendship.

Tanchun assists in household management at Autumn Freshness Studio, promoting benefits and removing abuses.

Poetry club gatherings at Paddy-Sweet Cottage and elsewhere; chrysanthemum poems.

Crab feast in the garden; Xiangyun hosts at Lotus Fragrance Pavilion and nearby.

Mid-Autumn moon viewing and linked verse at Shade of Blessing Hall and Convex Emerald Lodge.

Chrysanthemum poems and crab-and-osmanthus viewing at Autumn Freshness Studio and elsewhere.

Granny Liu enters the Grand View Garden; tour and feast at Visitation Lodge, Variegated Splendor Tower, and elsewhere.

Lady Jia's eightieth birthday; celebrations at the Rong and Ning mansions and Grand View Tower.

Wang Xifeng leads servants to search the Grand View Garden; Qingwen, Siqi and others are implicated; a turning point in the garden's decline.

Qingwen dies after being expelled from Happy Red Court; Baoyu writes "Elegy for the Hibiscus Maiden" in her memory.

Jinchuan'er is dismissed by Lady Wang after joking with Baoyu; she drowns herself in shame.

Jia Zheng beats Baoyu violently over Jinchuan'er's death and the demand for Jiang Yuhan by Prince Zhongshun.

You Erjie is persecuted by Wang Xifeng's schemes and swallows gold to end her life.

Liu Xianglian breaks the engagement; You Sanjie kills herself; Liu becomes a Taoist priest.

Wang Xifeng takes bribes at Iron Threshold Temple, breaks up Zhang Jinge's marriage, causing the couple to commit suicide.

Jiao Da, drunk, curses his masters, revealing scandals about the family.

Sha Dajie finds an embroidered pouch; Lady Xing uses it to stir trouble, leading to the garden search.

Xiangling learns poetry from Daiyu after entering the Grand View Garden, devoting herself fully and achieving success.

Qin Keqing dies; the Jia family holds a grand funeral; Wang Xifeng manages Ningguo Mansion affairs.

Jia Rui becomes obsessed with Wang Xifeng; after being toyed with, he falls ill and dies before the magic mirror.

Jiang Yuhan first meets Baoyu; they exchange sashes and form a bond.

Lingguan repeatedly traces the character "rose"; Baoyu watches and realizes "everyone has their own tears."

After her mother's death, Lin Daiyu comes to live with her grandmother; she meets Baoyu for the first time and they feel an instant connection.

Baoyu and Daiyu read "Romance of the Western Chamber" together by Seeping Fragrance Bridge, using its verses to express their feelings.

Baoyu tells Daiyu to "set her heart at rest"; they open their hearts to each other, deepening their bond.

Tanchun is chosen as a princess consort and married off to a distant land, parting from her family, foreshadowing the fall of the Jia family.

On the day of Baochai's wedding, Daiyu dies in Bamboo Lodge, her soul returning to the Land of Illusion.

Using a bait-and-switch scheme, the family arranges for Baoyu to marry Baochai while he believes the bride is Daiyu.

The Jia family is raided by officials due to court troubles; the family fortunes collapse and members scatter.

Baoyu sees through worldly illusions and becomes a monk, following the Buddhist and Taoist priests to end his earthly ties.

Baoyu dreams of the Land of Illusion; he sees the fates of the Twelve Beauties, hears the "Dream of Red Mansions" songs, and is guided by the Goddess of Disenchantment.

Leng Zixing tells Jia Yucun about the rise and fall of the four great families, sketching the Jia family's background for the reader.

Yuanyang refuses to become Jia She's concubine and cuts her hair to show her resolve; Grand Lady Jia protects her.

Baoyu and Daiyu quarrel over keepsakes but later reconcile, their feelings deepening.

Though ill, Qingwen stays up all night to mend Baoyu's peacock cloak, showing her loyalty and skill.