Abstract
This paper uses evidence found in paintings and calligraphy to map the social network of Cao Xueqin. Cao Xueqin's circle intersects with that of his father's friend Li Shizhuo. Among their mutual friends were many well-known artists including Gao Qipei, Dong Bangda, Chen Hao, Qian Weicheng, Zhu Lunhan, Fu Wen. The findings here support the conjecture that ”Mister Cao, Qinxi” mentioned in ”Collaborative Album of Landscape by Li Shizhuo and Calligraphy by Chen Hao” is in fact Cao Xueqin. Since Cao Xueqin and Li Shizhuo were clearly acquainted, it is highly likely that it was Cao Xueqin who acted as an agent for Li to bring this landscape album to Chen and ask for his inscription in order to form this ”Collaborative Album”. A deeper understanding of his network among the art world will contribute to clarifying the authorship and authenticity of ”Album Leaves by Cao Zhan” related to Cao Xueqin.