Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Chicago : The University of Chicago Press, 1977.
Description
The Chinese Bell Murders describes the Judge's exploits in the tribunal of Poo-yang early in his career. He has one case left over from his predecessor—the brutal rape-murder of Pure Jade, the daughter of Butcher Hsai who lived on Half Moon Street. Her lover has been accused and is on the verge of being convicted, but Judge Dee senses that all is not right and sets out with his lieutenants to find the real murderer. "So scrupulously in the classic Chinese manner yet so nicely equipped with everything to satisfy the modern reader."—New York Times Robert Van Gulik (1910-67) was a Dutch diplomat and an authority on Chinese history and culture. He drew his plots from the whole body of Chinese literature, especially from the popular detective novels that first appeared in the seventeenth century.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member wildbill
This book is one of the Judge Dee series written by Robert van Gulik, a Dutch diplomat. The actual Judge Dee lived from 630 to 700 c. e., in the Tang dynasty. The author began the series by translating Chinese stories written from the 16th to 19th century. Later books were written by van Gulik
The criminal justice system in Imperial China used many practices alien to the West. Torture was commonplace and was often used by the judge to obtain a confession. Executions were more frequent and used many different methods. In this book one of the criminals is quartered, a particularly gruesome method of execution. Searches did not require a warrant and the accused did not have the right to remain silent. The investigator and the judge were combined in one person. This book illustrates that these methods were effective in finding the truth and punishing the wrongdoer.
There are three mysteries in this book; the rape and murder of a Chinese girl, a Buddhist monastery engaged in fraud and a twenty year old family feud. Most of the books in the series have multiple mysteries going on side by side and Buddhists are often cast as villains because of their challenge to the official Confucian philosophy.
Each story begins with a complaint being presented at the tribunal where Judge Dee is the presiding officer and questions all involved parties. The scribes make a record of each person's statement and they must affix their thumb print to the document. Then the Judge and his aides investigate the crimes. Three of the senior investigators are former criminals, two were highwaymen and the other a confidence man. They were converted to working on the side of the law by the force of Judge Dee's personality and bring a variety of skills to their jobs. Judge Dee often works in disguise and uses indirect methods similar to Sherlock Holmes.
There is action and danger as the investigations proceed. In one incident Judge Dee and his three lieutenants are trapped under a large heavy bell in an attempt to kill them. Each of the mysteries ends with a twist in the ending you expect in a good detective story.
What I most like about this book and the others in the series is how it places the reader in the environment of Imperial China. Their culture was truly alien to our life today. It is emphasized in many ways that the group was more important than the individual and stability more important than freedom.
The end of the story provides an excellent example of the difference in culture and philosophy. Four top officials review Judge Dee's actions and decide to award him with an inscription written in the vermillion calligraphy of the Emperor. The inscription is placed on a horizontal board set up over the dais in the tribunal. The book closes with Judge Dee kneeling in prayer before the Emperor's words.
"Justice outweighs individual life."
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based upon themes from Chinese stories. The books are entertaining historical fiction that provide insight into the culture of Imperial China, something most Westerners are not very familiar with.The criminal justice system in Imperial China used many practices alien to the West. Torture was commonplace and was often used by the judge to obtain a confession. Executions were more frequent and used many different methods. In this book one of the criminals is quartered, a particularly gruesome method of execution. Searches did not require a warrant and the accused did not have the right to remain silent. The investigator and the judge were combined in one person. This book illustrates that these methods were effective in finding the truth and punishing the wrongdoer.
There are three mysteries in this book; the rape and murder of a Chinese girl, a Buddhist monastery engaged in fraud and a twenty year old family feud. Most of the books in the series have multiple mysteries going on side by side and Buddhists are often cast as villains because of their challenge to the official Confucian philosophy.
Each story begins with a complaint being presented at the tribunal where Judge Dee is the presiding officer and questions all involved parties. The scribes make a record of each person's statement and they must affix their thumb print to the document. Then the Judge and his aides investigate the crimes. Three of the senior investigators are former criminals, two were highwaymen and the other a confidence man. They were converted to working on the side of the law by the force of Judge Dee's personality and bring a variety of skills to their jobs. Judge Dee often works in disguise and uses indirect methods similar to Sherlock Holmes.
There is action and danger as the investigations proceed. In one incident Judge Dee and his three lieutenants are trapped under a large heavy bell in an attempt to kill them. Each of the mysteries ends with a twist in the ending you expect in a good detective story.
What I most like about this book and the others in the series is how it places the reader in the environment of Imperial China. Their culture was truly alien to our life today. It is emphasized in many ways that the group was more important than the individual and stability more important than freedom.
The end of the story provides an excellent example of the difference in culture and philosophy. Four top officials review Judge Dee's actions and decide to award him with an inscription written in the vermillion calligraphy of the Emperor. The inscription is placed on a horizontal board set up over the dais in the tribunal. The book closes with Judge Dee kneeling in prayer before the Emperor's words.
"Justice outweighs individual life."
Show Less
LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
2nd in the Judge Dee Series, most of the action takes place in a creepy Buddhist monastery. Ghosts, spirits and mystery abound. Fun!
LibraryThing member devenish
This is my least-liked Judge Dee novel. It does not flow like the rest of them and begins in a different way. Instead of getting straight to the point,as they usually do,Van Gulik starts this one with an unnamed character having a supernatural experience involving the Judge's mirror and cap. I also
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felt that the story itself was not up to standard and that it concluded with scenes of torture and death which were not germane to the tale. Show Less
LibraryThing member rboyechko
I've read one of Judge Dee's mystery books before and it was okay for the historical context, but I just could not get through this one. I finally abandoned it after trying for some time. I think the biggest detractor was the style of the writing.
LibraryThing member rameau
One of the best in the series. Judge Dee and his four assistants, Sergeant Hoong, Chiao Tao, Ma Joong, and Tao Gan, investigate three cases: a 20-year-old feud between two Cantonese families, a suspiciously wealthy Buddhist temple, and the murder of a young girl. Science fiction writers could learn
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a thing or two from how van Gulik subtly conveys to the reader how the world of ancient China works. Show Less
LibraryThing member cathyskye
Back in the 1980s, my mother read all Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee books and loved them. I knew that, sooner or later, I would have to read at least one of them myself. Much, much later, I have finally done so, and I can see why Mom enjoyed them so much.
Three of Judge Dee's cases are covered in The
Judge Dee is often called the Sherlock Holmes of ancient China, and it's easy to see why. These cases are all about their ingenious mysteries, all about solving the puzzles. Judge Dee thinks nothing of donning disguises to get at the truth, and he is scrupulous at upholding the law, although not all of his able assistants are. I also appreciated the glimpse into the life and culture of 7th-century China.
This is a series that I feel I can come back to once in a while when I'm in the mood for a "Just the facts, ma'am" mystery. Even though I am a bone-deep character-driven reader, there is something to be said for occasionally solving a concise puzzle or two.
Three of Judge Dee's cases are covered in The
Show More
Chinese Bell Murders: "Rape Murder in Half Moon Street," "The Secret Door of the Buddhist Temple," and "The Case of the Skeleton Under the Bell." Judge Dee is often called the Sherlock Holmes of ancient China, and it's easy to see why. These cases are all about their ingenious mysteries, all about solving the puzzles. Judge Dee thinks nothing of donning disguises to get at the truth, and he is scrupulous at upholding the law, although not all of his able assistants are. I also appreciated the glimpse into the life and culture of 7th-century China.
This is a series that I feel I can come back to once in a while when I'm in the mood for a "Just the facts, ma'am" mystery. Even though I am a bone-deep character-driven reader, there is something to be said for occasionally solving a concise puzzle or two.
Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
Judge Dee in mid career as a magistrate, is posted to Poo-yang where everything seems to be pretty prosperous and the only crime is a rape murder with an obvious suspect. Then there are those Buddhist monks who are ever so prosperous and a crazy old woman who claims a merchant has ruined her family
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in Canton and killed her grandson here. More like an interesting tour through a novel judicial system and strange town than a modern mystery, still the characters are interesting and the puzzles, at least the first time through,intriguing. This may be my fourth time through, but at least it's been well over a decade. Show Less
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1958 (English)
ISBN
0226848620 / 9780226848624
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery van Gulik |