The Chinese Gold Murders

Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee mysteries are always a delight! Van Gulik, a Dutch diplomat to China and other Asian nations, a linguist and Asian scholar, translated an 18th century Chinese novels on the exploits of a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh. Simplifying the magistrate's name to Judge Dee Jen-djieh, Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976), van Gulik introduced the world to the quick mind and relentless quest for justice of the real-life Judge Dee.

In The Chinese Gold Murders, van Gulik used some of real-life cases decided by Judge Dee and others as a stepping-off place for some stories of his own imagining. Despite that, van show more Gulik ensures that his own novel observes the tenets of ancient Chinese mysteries: recasting the events as if they had occurred in the Ming Dynasty and including wood carving pictures, a Confucianist sensibility, and the occasional ghost or miracle. The result is much more satisfying and less dated than it sounds. Van Gulik weaves together the cases of a missing bride, the disappearance of a tribunal official, and the murder of Judge Dee's own predecessor. Even though Judge Dee lived from A.D. 630 to 700, the cases seem fresh, and Judge Dee exhibits both generosity of spirit and an unexpectedly nuanced approach to life and the law. The three mysteries that Judge Dee investigates end up being intertwined, as often happens in Judge Dee novels. And unlike other pulp detective authors of his day, van Gulik isn't afraid to allow Judge Dee to commit a mistake or jump to an incorrect conclusion before finally coming around to the correct one.

In addition to providing a very satisfying mystery, Van Gulik provides a window into 7th century China, whether the workings of a lower-level official of the Imperial court or the lives of middle-class merchants, peasants and prostitutes. These ancient people really come alive, thanks to van Gulik's skillful writing!

Van Gulik has also crafted an excellent resolution to the novel -- one you certainly won't see coming! Even so, you never get the feeling that van Gulik is playing unfair with his readers by withholding clues. A Judge Dee mystery differs from any other mystery series I've ever read. With the ancient setting, the upright also sometimes fallible magistrate, the historical elements, the occasional humorous episodes involving the conceited Lothario Ma Joong (one of Judge Dee's assistants), and the otherwise formal tone, these books are absolutely unique but never stuffy. What a testament to van Gulik that he realized that centuries-old cases would so resound with modern readers!

Lastly, The Chinese Gold Murders shows how Judge Dee first met his trusted assistants, Ma Joong and Chiao Tai, while they were still "brothers of the green wood," or, as we would call them, highwaymen. Their first encounter in the second chapter of the novel gives a glimpse of a rarely seen frolicsome side of Judge Dee; you'll thoroughly enjoy it!

The Judge Dee mysteries, with their setting in Imperial China and their faithful observance of the niceties of ancient Chinese mystery stories. While there's nothing wrong with beginning with van Gulik's first book, The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, readers who start with The Chinese Gold Murders won't go wrong, either. show less

Judge Dee is looking forward to getting out of the Chinese Metropolitan Court of Justice. He's tired of only seeing cases on paper, processing routine documents and copies and has requested a recently vacated district judge position. It doesn't matter that the Magistrate position will be in the district of Peng-lai, on the seacoast far from the capitol. It doesn't even matter that the position opened due to the murder of the prior judge, discovered in his library with the doors and windows locked. Though his two friends and co-workers try to convince him otherwise, he remains excited:

"Now he said eagerly, "think of it, a mysterious murder to solve, right after one has arrived at one's post! To have an opportunity right away for getting show more rid of dry-as-dust theorizing and paper work! At last I'll be dealing with men, my friends, real living men!"

Judge Dee is about to get what he asked for and more. There are honorable highwaymen, prostitutes, Korean nationalists, mysterious monks, supercilious scholars and tormented minor officials. Rumors abound with sightings of the supernatural: the ghost of the former judge and a man-eating were-tiger. Though certainly these things existed to the Chinese people in 663 A.D., the Judge feels the mundane must be ruled out before the supernatural is blamed.

I had only read one other Judge Dee mystery to date, and I found this one even more enjoyable than the first. Part of it may have been the erudite and comprehensive introduction by Donald F. Lach that provided both biography of the author, the historical Judge Dee tales in Chinese literature (think something like Paul Bunyan folk tales) and van Gulik's approach to his version. But I think more likely is that it is a genuinely interesting mystery, wrapped in the atmosphere of historical China, much like Agatha Christie's mysteries provide insight into the local English culture of that time. As Lach points out, "the smallest items--ink stones, nails in a Tartar shoe, the gongs of Taoist monks, door knobs--are brought into the stories at strategic points... to enlighten the Western reader about these strange objects and their function." I was afraid these details might intrude, but instead they added depth to the tale. Lach's insight also made me glad that Van Gulik chose to tailor his tale slightly to Western sensibilities and not reveal the criminal's identity in the beginning (talk about setting the concept of spoilers on its head!)

Overall, a fascinating tale. I'll be looking for some of the other stories written by Van Gulik, although I might focus on the ones written after 1958 as they deviate more from the traditional Chinese Judge Dee tales. show less

A reread. Classic Chinese detective tale, almost verbatim from archival accounts. van Gulik was a world renowned sinologist and he had a passion for Chinese criminal justice. His hero Judge Dee is based on an historical judge and his adventures around the Empire starting around 663 AD. It's well done, the reader is put right inside the story and you get to learn a few interesting things about the Empire frontier life on the Korean borders. I love his original mysteries. The new adventures of Judge Dee are not to be even approached. It's like getting a slice of processed cheese when you had the real thing.

Although The Chinese Gold Murders is not the first book published in Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee mysteries, it tells of the beginning of Judge Dee's career as a magistrate. His first appointment takes him to the coastal town of Peng-lai to replace a recently murdered magistrate. His first task is to investigate his predecessor's murder. Soon two more cases require his attention: a missing person case involving a newly-married young woman, and another murder.

This is the first book I've read in this series, and it's one that will take some getting used to. The author has patterned this novel after Chinese detective novels, which follow different rules than the Western detective fiction I'm used to. The historical and cultural setting -- show more China's Tang Dynasty (with elements of the Ming Dynasty) -- is one I'm not very familiar with, and the English translation doesn't flow as well as it might if a native speaker had translated it.

It's probably worth the extra effort for me to read more in this series. The detective is based on a historical person, Di Renjie, who lived in the 7th century. Di is remembered for solving difficult crimes, and he was the hero of some Chinese detective novels, some of which were translated by Robert van Gulik. The author's illustrations are a nice touch to help readers visualize the characters and cultural setting.

Recommended for readers with an interest in historical mysteries and/or Chinese history. Its supernatural elements may appeal to readers who like paranormal fiction. show less

I've read and enjoyed quite a few of the Judge Dee series. You might think it would be a departure, but these books involved the same components as other historical mysteries: a hero, his sidekicks, a murder (or two), atmosphere and history. The hero and his sidekicks investigate, legwork ensues, hero's brainpower triumphs, case solved!

The differences from 'normal' might be that it's an atypical time period and location: 7th century China, during the T'ang dynasty. The hero is an official of the law -- a Magistrate, or local judge. Van Gulik created the books from original tales that were told by storytellers about early detective heroes -- typically Magistrates -- and many that included the "real" Judge Dee.

According to the show more introduction written by Donald F. Lach in the 1977 Univ. of Chicago Press edition of "The Chinese Bell Murders," Van Gulik idealized the stories somewhat based on his understanding of imperial China, however, so the historical aspects must be taken with some rather large grains of salt...

However, the stories are very good and the characters interesting. Not too much woo-woo, either, for early China. Van Gulik has added some emotion for Western readers (!), and not everyone dies at the end (as in typical Chinese drama), so it's a very satisfying series.

Other authors to try: Laura Joh Rowland, Bernard Cornwell, I. J. Parker show less

Great book about ancient Chinese culture and its judicial system, a must read for any history, world lit, or English class. Very well written, and easy to read perfect for middle school or high school students. The mystery element of the book can be expanded to create an entire lesson about genre. The plot and first person narrative provide a perfect way of studying narration styles and the elements of a novel. The characters are very diverse and bring many ideas into the story that could be a platform into discussions about race, class, crime, fantasy, empirical rule, the judicial system then and now. A teacher could create and entire unit off this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think it's a great teaching tool.

#3 in the series ; not as well developed in character as the later ones, but still quite good.

Magistrate Judge Dee, in Tang-Dynasty China, is tasked with trying to find out who killed his predecessor. But also, all in a day's work, there's a tiger on the loose, a monk is buried in the wrong grave, and there's a ghost floating around. There is never a dull moment; I enjoy watching the unraveling of each of the subplots in these novels.

recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries, or books set in China; also, for those who may be wondering whether or not to go on in the series. But be sure to start with #1.