Bao-yu is the heir of a long distant Jia clan. Yu-cun’s friend, an antique dealer, introduces Yu-cun to the story of the boy’s birth: Bao-yu was born with a piece of inscribed jade in his mouth. Yu-cun realizes that Bao-yu is a remarkable child and possibly the recipient of particularly potent cosmic “humors.” These humors will make Bao-yu creative, a great lover, and special compared to others of his rank—though they also have the potential to make him particularly evil.

Bao-yu is the main character of the novel, and his exploits often serve as a warning against the draw of romantic love over other, more noble pursuits like studying and spiritual teachings. Bao-yu has a nasty temper, often throws tantrums, and is frequently pointing out other’s flaws. He struggles to control himself in front of beautiful women and has strong romantic feelings for his cousin Dai-yu. However, he also has enormous poetic talent and is a skilled calligrapher. Despite these skills, his terrifying father, Jia Zheng, looks down upon and bullies him. His Grandmother Jia and his mother Lady Wang often spoil him, which causes several resentments among other members of the family, who are envious of his special treatment.