Black Jade • Story

(From the Chinese classic The Dream of the Red Chamber) Black Jade was the central heroine of the story. She was in love eith Chia Pao-yu, and he with her, but because of her ill health, his family decided she would be a poor choice as a future wife for Pao-yu. So they arranged for his marriage with another girl. Precious Virtue, but knowing how Pao-yu felt about Balck Jade, they let him believe that she should be his future wife. Not until after the couple retired to the wedding chamber and Pao-yu lifted the red veil from his bride's face did he discover the treachery. Upon learning of the marriage, Black Jade finally succumbed to the consumption that had plagued her entire life. After her death, Pao-yu disappeared into the mountains, and was seen only once more as a monk in a red cloak.