The basic storyline of A Dream of Red Mansions focuses primarily on the Chia family. There are two dukes in the family — Duke Ning-kuo and Duke Jung-kuo. Chia Fu, the elder grandson of Duke Ning-kuo, dies young, so the second grandson, Chia Ching, succeeds to the title after the death of his father, Chia Tai-hua. However, since his heart is set on a religious life, he relinquishes his title to his son, Chia Chen, and devotes his time and energy to religious study, hoping to become an immortal after death.
Unlike his father, Chia Chen is a libertine, indulging himself in a lecherous lifestyle. For example, he has an illicit affair with his son's wife, Chin Ko-ching.
Duke Jung-kuo's son Chia Tai-shan marries the daughter of Marquis Shih of Chinling (Duchess Chia née Shih, Lady Dowager). They have two sons, Chia Sheh and Chia Cheng, and a daughter, Chia Min. Chia Sheh has a son, Chia Lien, whose wife is Wang Hsi-feng , and their daughter is Chiao-chieh. Chia Sheh has a daughter, Ying-chun, by a concubine.
Chia Cheng marries Lady Wang, and they have two sons, Chia Chu and Chia Pao-yu, and a daughter, Tan-chun (by concubine Lady Chao). Chia Chu dies young, leaving his wife, Li Wan, and his son, Chia Lan, behind. Chia Pao-yu is born with a piece of precious jade in his mouth — the Jade of Spiritual Understanding.
Chia Min is married to Lin Ju-hai, but dies young, leaving a daughter, Lin Tai-yu, with her father, Lin Juhai. Upon her grandmother Lady Dowager's invitation, Tai-yu comes to live with the Chia family. Lady Dowager dotes on both Pao-yu and Tai-yu.
As the Chia family is a wealthy and powerful, aristocratic family and the household is a vast one, Aunt Hsueh and her daughter, Hsueh Pao-chai, come to join the household. Pao-yu, in his innocent and naive fashion, loves both girls equally, although his strongest attachment is to Tai-yu.
