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Judge Dee (Chronological order) #14

by Robert van Gulik

Като окръжен магистрат в северозападните покрайнини на империята съдията Ди започва да се отегчава от еднообразието на провинциалния живот, когато серия дръзки убийства го изтръгва от спокойствието и го поставя пред един от най-обърканите случаи в цялата му кариера. Всички следи като че ли водят към изчезнало преди години императорско съкровище. Престъпниците подлагат на изпитание не само прозорливостта на съдията, но и бойните умения на Ма Жун, склонен както винаги да обръща внимание на всяка срещната жена.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Historical Fiction, Fiction, China, Historical, Historical Mystery

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Robert Hans van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat best known for his Judge Dee stories. His first published book, The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, was a translation of an eighteenth-century Chinese murder mystery by an unknown author; he went on to write new mysteries for Judge Dee, a character based on a historical figure from the seventh century. He also wrote academic books, mostly on Chinese history.

Reviews

[Henry Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outside the walls of a small frontier town Lan-fang just east of it, in remote western China a headless body is found . In the Buddhist "Temple of the Purple Clouds", now deserted. Closed by the authorities over a decade ago, for shall we say activities that the great Buddha, would not approve of. The celebrated Judge Dee investigates, being the new magistrate there and quickly sees that the nearby head, doesn't match the corpse. The murderers were trying to hide the identity of the deceased. Why ? Obviously a second victim is involved. In the seventh century during the Tang dynasty, crimes are much harder to solve. But they do have a method that helps a lot. Personal persuasion we will call it, a little pressure can get wonderful results, the judge has no need for that in this case. He just uses his renowned intellect. Further inspecting the property by an old well at midnight, a brave man descends into the darkness. Inside, Ma Joong a lieutenant of Dee's discovers another body with the help of his lantern, again headless. And also not welcomed large rocks falling down at him. He has luck on his side , finding a hole in the interior and barely saving his own precious skull. Complications arise, Imperial gold stolen last year and never recovered and rumors of it being hidden, in the temple. After searching the building thoroughly, not one piece of gold is recovered which frustrates the magistrate. A girl named Jade daughter of a prominent citizen, vanished too at the same time. All three cases are somehow related to this mystery. The good judge has only two assistants to help, giant Ma Joong and Hoong Liang, an old man who has seen better days...One victim was a ruffian and the other apparently a servant to a painter. What's more a ghostly phantom is going around the gardens of the temple, scaring the vagabonds living there, these are ancient days superstitious times. Needing information, Dee sends Ma Joon to the barbaric northwest corner of town. The judge is a busy man three wives and children to take care of and duties to attend. Where the assistant meets the beautiful former high priestess, Buddhist sorceress now Tala, feared in this quarter by her people. The Tartar territory is a short distance away , she gives him vague clues in the nude and bold Ma Joong is uneasy...Still the danger persists a constable is killed, another injured by the phantom ? To the north of the Temple of the Purple Clouds, The Hermitage a smaller shrine was built also. Residing there is an Abbess, a widow named Mrs. Chang now living the religious life and her maid Spring Cloud ( daughter of a known criminal). Is there a connection to the murders ? The apparition, the evil Phantom keeps appearing and floating around the perplexing, Temple gardens...

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is early years in his NW district of Lan-Fang on the border and an excellent read. Two of his lieutenants are gone on task elsewhere but Ma has eyes on the situation. Truly enjoying!

Lieutenant Ma is the central action and character in this one that occurs 6 months after Maze and as such is right at the beginning of Judge Dee's long career. It is exceptional on at least 3 different counts.

For one, you get an intense and deep understanding of the personalities beyond the cases being explored here. Ma most especially, but also Judge Dee at home and his 3 wives. They each also have their own expertise and roles in how the family thrives. They appear in some actions and even within the graphic drawings that I just love. And these women even have clothes on. Third Wife plays an active role and it is a celebration for 1st wife's birthday. You know their ages.

The clothing stages of decoration etc. and styles (shapes) are base forms for the mores and function of work purposes. This entire dressing depth is also explored. The style that is current is almost like a Japanese kimono with wide robes, pants, sleeves. Everyone uses sleeves for carrying, much more than even pockets. But way beyond that, the different clothing is essential to authority recognitions and much else of identity. You see this with Ma as much as with the Judge. Changing the color or fabric or even kind of cap will make him recognized as varied in purpose and even within name or onus of the moment who his identity becomes or how people react to him.

Also we learn more about the town itself beyond the excellent mapping provided. And how the tribunal in standard process works every workday morning. Also the border considerations with the Northwest slums / row and streets. Please note if you take these on that they were written in mid-century 1900's. Barbarians are called barbarians. Women without training or of lower classes pick their noses or sound beyond even replying to them uncouth. This is a reality latter 600's AD. Reading some reviews?

You also get a conclusion to the love affair Ma had in book #1. He bought her out and also purchased a soup kitchen for her work. And married her off to a solid husband.

And the next women in his life are completely on the scene as well. Ma is always a player, where ever he ends up. Here in the Phantom of the Temple- there is a Abbess and a seer/ witch. And also a testy, filled with spark aide to the Abbess with which he pairs for work and sleuthing purposes. They need to find a more than 1 year old hidden location. Dangerous too. Young Fang is getting larger roles (hired in Maze as a new young constable) and he is wounded during the worst of these.

Lots of past theft and other deplorable duplicitous crimes uncovered in these 3 cases of crimes within a mish/mash. Judge Dee deciphers expertly. Unknowingly testing the reactions of "jump back". And you get to meet the entire Dee family pictured in lovely art on top of it.

4.5 stars. But I can't round it up because it was, if anything, too short. I wanted to hear the children's names too. They crowd around in the drawing at table- but only 1 small boy has his hand in his mother's hair flowers (1st wife) at the celebration. While his nurse/nanny holds him standing behind the seated family.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers will love this tale of Judge Dee’s time as the newly arrived magistrate in the backwater of Lan-fang in A.D. 670 before he was elevated to bigger and better posts. With his lieutenants Chiao Tai and Tao Gan off to the capital, Judge Dee relies on Sergeant Hoong and Ma Joong when a headless corpse and a separate head without a corpse turn up near an abandoned Buddhist temple. As usual in author Robert van Gulik’s Judge Dee novel and in traditional Chinese detective stories, one case leads to two interrelated ones; I never guessed who the murderer was, and I devoured the novel.

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

οταν διαβαζω ιστορια του Δικαστη Τι νοιωθω σα να ειμαι home

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

While stumbling just a bit at the start, Phantom soon sweeps you into the vortex of murder, stolen gold, precious artifacts serving as clues, lusty betrayal, and, as always, dollops of immorality. In this case, with the latter, it's van Gulik's ever popular obsessions with adultery and hints of incest. All these things take place against a backdrop of a remote province on the outer edge of the Chinese empire. Plenty of atmosphere permeates the story and, if you've been reading these Judge Dee novels in chronological order, as I have, there is also the satisfaction of meeting up with familiar characters, while also being introduced in depth to some who have only been seen on the fringes. Namely, Dee's three wives. Otherwise, one of Dee's trusted lieutenants, Ma Joong, gets the lion's share of attention, as you come to know more about him than any of the others. Alas, once again, poor Ma Joong finds a potential girlfriend stolen from him by yet another younger man. Will he ever learn?

What makes this story special? Perhaps not much, considering that the body of Dee stories are almost all of superb quality. But some things do stick out. Once again, van Gulik employs the practice of setting up three crimes to be solved simultaneously. In this novel, however, they will all merge into one lane. Instead of spreading out and the crimes confusing Dee, they coalesce and funnel into one grand conclusion. That and the promise of a ghostly phantom, as usual, is explained away rationally, even as the realization of death itself sees a treatment that is mystical and spiritual in what it promises--or threatens.

[kostas vamvoukakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

χωρις εκπληξεις αλλο ενα σταθερα πολυ καλο αστυνομικο του δικαστη τι...

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Judge Dee novels are a constant delight. Set in China around 700 A.D. or so, this series practically invented the historical detective genre. The era comes alive through Van Gulik's prose, and the characters become as familiar as old friends. If you're looking for some good light reading, the Judge Dee novels have it all: haunted temples, grisly murders, action, comedy, sex, and of course, justice done in the end. Not all classic mystery series age well, but Judge Dee seems timeless.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like these books but it was a same that reference was made to putting item into an Envelope which was not invented till 1876. Items during the period of the book were folded and sealed.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find that this story was a bit eerie especially read in the night. gave me goosebums with the appearance of the white lady, Tala's fearsome God and the message from the grave.

all were very interesting read indeed with loads of twist and turn.

only downside that I found was the story was a bit short. could have elaborated more. as it is the explanation was a bit "compacted".

yes this have been an enjoyable reads

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suht tüüpiline kohtunik Di müsteerium, sisaldab varastatud kulda, peidetud krüpte, kadunud isikuid, kadunud laipasid, paar-kolme kummaliselt käituvat linnakodanikku, paari minevikus aset leidnud kuritegu või saladust, paari sensuaalset naisterahvast ja van Guliku joonistatud kümmekonda vana-Hiina stiilis illustratsiooni, millest mõned kujutavad teadagi mõnd noist sensuaalsetest naisterahvastest, alasti, nagu ikka. Üldiselt, suht hea. Võiks isegi öelda, keskmisest Di mõistatusest veidi paremgi.

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the historical details in this series. Additionally, this story has a pretty creepy atmosphere, as multiple scenes take place in an abandoned temple at night, haunted by a mysterious female figure.

[Timons Esaias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read one Judge Dee mystery at each Seton Hill WPF Residency, and The Phantom of the Temple was the January 2017 selection. This one has Dee, his three wives, Sergeant Hoong and Ma Joong as the set of familiar characters. It's set in the imaginary district of Lan-fang, about a year after a notorious robbery of an Imperial gold shipment took place there.

The case starts with a double murder, which seems to have taken place at an abandoned Buddhist temple outside the city walls. Decapitation is the common theme of the murders, and it was apparently done to confuse the authorities.

There are colorful characters, lots of suspects, and puzzling clues. Dee provides a clever test for some of the suspects, and that's a nice touch. There's a scene in which Dee goes over the possible pairs of suspects, after he concludes that at least two people have to be involved, and that's a nice scene. I admit, though, that the reasoning at that point seemed to be pretty suppositious, and that weakened the drama.

Still, it's a decent entry in the series; and it took my mind off all the pressures and distractions of my school duties.

[Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book in the series. I liked the fact that this story was very well constructed, with seemingly unrelated events coming together to create only a single case. I also liked the fact that the various characters were well developed - for example, van Gulik spent time to flesh out Di's family life and introduced us in more detail to his first and third wife who in the process became individuals rather than remaining templates.
And, finally, I did like the hints to a reality that is outside our day-to-day experiences. We might think of them as religious superstition, but it, without doubt, was a major part of the Chinese culture then.
Unfortunately, this is the last of the books I own.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid Judge Dee Mystery. This time, he, Ma Joong, and Sergeant Hoong investigate three cases, with the main setting being a deserted temple. (There are quite a few deserted temples in Van Gulik.)

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been re-reading the Judge Dee series on Kindle but I read this last week and I'm about 3 books ahead now so the details are not as clear anymore.

This wasn't one of my favorites. The mystery part of the Judge Dee books are always a bit meh. Crime happens and Dee is on it. Dee sends his lieutenants (or himself) to investigate, suspects are identified and questioned, people are questioned again based on what they find and Dee usually solves the mystery by intuition and bluffing the suspects. It's pretty much the same formula and probably how good magistrates did it in the old days.

The good parts of the book are the characters. The best books are the ones with memorable characters, some that I remember years after reading the books. They have great moments and great lines. This book doesn't really have them.

The other good part are the settings. Sometimes it's an unusual city or locale where the natives or foreigners are interesting. Sometimes I learn about a particular aspect of history and it doesn't really happen in this case.

In this book, there is an abandoned temple up in the hills. Dead bodies are found there, including a man with a decapitated head but it doesn't match the body so there are two dead bodies. Then the daughter of a merchant is missing and finally 20 gold bars stolen from a government courier 20 years ago. It could have been a good story but I think Van Gulik made it too complex and had too many people in it.

[Ad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judge Dee is asked to investigate beyond the East Gate of Lan-Fang, where a mysterious ghost haunts a Buddhist temple sitting on a wooded hill - of which the surrounding area has experienced a series of gruesome murders. In the meantime, the judge must search for the thieves of the treasure of 20 gold bars carried by the imperial treasurer, as well as the disappearance of Jade, the daughter of a wealthy banker and gold and silver trader, who left an enigmatic message behind.

Van Gulik completed this novel, the sixth of his New Series, after he arrived in February 1965 in Tokyo as ambassador. He introduced two of Judge Dee's lieutenants (Sergeant Hoong and Ma Joong), paid extra attention to the judge's family life, and also used the Tartar element from the Maze Murders again.

In fact, Van Gulik had been approached by a cartoon publisher to create a Judge Dee serial cartoon story for Dutch newspapers. He had to write the plots and train a professional draughtsman to make the pictures. One of the stories he wrote for the cartoon was The Phantom of the Temple, which he then used for his next novel. Perhaps because of the circumstance under which it was conceived, this is a lesser Judge Dee novel, consisting mainly of conventional elements.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm currently working my way through the Judge Dee stories in the order they were written. I would give the ones prior to this 5 stars (maybe just 4 stars for the very first), but I was disappointed in this one because of the inconsistencies in the story.

The first chapter is a sort of prologue to the rest of the story, told in the third person. There is no indication anywhere in the book that this is anything other than factual reportage. However, the solution revealed at the end of the story partially conflicts with the facts reported in chapter 1. This is "not playing fair" for a book in the mystery genre, and is the main reason for my disappointment.

Another (minor) discrepancy is a key date, which is given as the 9th month in the main body of the story, but the 8th month in Judge Dee's summing up.

Elsewhere in these ratings, another reader states that the plot was originally the plot of a Judge Dee cartoon story by van Gulik, published in the Netherlands. Looking back on the story, it's easy to see that various episodes in the story would have worked very well visually. I might surmise that the inconsistencies noted above were introduced when the plot was reworked for a book.

[Rick Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tang Dynasty administrator Dee is working on a cold case in the frontier town of Lan-Fang when he gets word of a murder by decapitation. But when it becomes apparent that the head and the body don't match, the judge realizes he has a double murder on his hands.

The plot is clever, if perhaps a notch more convoluted than it really needed to be, but the steps to getting to the solution are fun. Dee's lieutenant Ma Joong, who handles all of the dangerous work with cheerful enthusiasm, is the one who really steals the show in this story. Ma Joong eagerly dallies with various girlfriends in between moments of peril, including a surprisingly wholesome friendly relationship with his former girlfriend in the Tartar quarter of town.

There are some fun interactions with the various suspects, and as usual in this series, impressive attention to detail when it comes to Tang Dynasty culture, whether it be the intrigues of aristocrats or the everyday life of the working class.

[Hoàng Anh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Một vụ án ko quá hấp dẫn nhưng tôi đánh giá cao cách dẫn dắt câu chuyện của tác giả. Việc cho biết hung thủ là một cặp tình nhân ngay từ trang đầu của chuyện lại chính là "hoả mù" khiến người đọc đi nhầm hướng.
Nội dung câu chuyện là hành trình tìm kiếm manh mối dài lê thê của trợ thủ Mã Vinh, nhưng cũng chính điều này tạo lên sự khác biệt với những cuốn khác cùng series, kết truyện tác giả không đưa ra những điểm then chốt cụ thể mà quan án đã sử dụng để đưa đến suy luận cuối cùng, khiến người đọc lại phải ngẫm nghĩ lại những tình tiết khi Mã Vinh khám phá được trong ngôi chùa, làm cho dù đã đọc xong cuốn tiểu thuyết nhưng tôi vẫn ám ảnh và chưa dứt đc các tình tiết trong vụ án.
Điểm trừ duy nhất là tác giả đưa quá nhiều nhân vật phụ và những mối liên hệ gây nhiễu để đánh lạc hướng, nhưng những sắp xếp này lại quá lộ và dài dòng.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A headless corpse is found in an old deserted Buddhist temple closed by the authorities because an offshoot sect began strange rites there. Judge Dee begins his investigation and finds the head and the body do not match. He has not one murder, but two to solve.
In going through the Tribunal archives, the Judge discovers 50 gold bars was stolen and never recovered a year before his arrival.
Purchasing an ebony box for his first wife's birthday, the Judge finds a plea for help inside.
The stakes get higher when a constable is murdered and Ma Joong has attempts made on his life.
This entry in the series is a fast paced, easy book to read. It does involve strange religious practices and mention of other groups of people from over the border including the Tartars and the Uigers.

[Tuhkatriin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mõtlen kogu aeg, et nüüd ma enam rohkem van Gulikit ei loe, aitab. Aga kui mõni tema järjekordne tõlge odavmüüki ilmub, ostan ikka ära. Probleemiks kujuneb küll meeles pidada, mis kodus juba olemas on, kuna- olgem ausad- kõik tema Hiina detektiivjutud on suhteliselt sarnased, erandiks ehk "Kummitused kloostris", mis minu arvates on tal üks parimaid.
Eelnevalt öeldust hoolimata on kohtunik Di raamatuid siiski mõnus lugeda Vana-Hiina kirjelduste, olustiku ja atmosfääri tõttu. Autor tundub teemat valdavat ja armastavat ning tema teosed on elavad, tulvil usutavaid ja mitmekesiseid karaktereid kõrgetest ametnikest ja peentest emandatest pättide ja litsideni välja.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce qui y est intéressant, c'est que l'auteur nous laisse la possibilité d'imaginer que les personnes impliquées n'étaient pas forcement celles punies à la fin du livre, relatant ainsi énormément de vraie enquêtes résolues que partiellement, malgré l'esprit vif du juge Ti. Toujours aussi bien renseigné sur le processus d'investigation et la tendance de l'humain à croire au surnaturel, au profit des personnes mal-intentionnées.

[Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Judge Di mystery! On one hand what I didn't like was how the motive for the crimes was fairly straightforward and known from the very beginning but I absolutely loved how tiny, tiniest pieces of almost background information proved crucial to solving the crime at the end. I also enjoyed a bigger role for Ma Joong and (a very slightly) bigger one for Judge's wives.

[Mililani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery of the Chinese sort. Judge Dee seeks to fine the murderer who is searching for a cache of gold hidden in a temple. People who get in the way are eliminated. Dee makes excellent use of Hoong and Ma Joong, his subordinates to gather information. Everything is revealed in the last chapter.

[margaret chalmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold, ghosts, girls.

Outstanding. The judge throws a party for one of his wives. Elsewhere two men are murdered, Mai Joong falls in love again, oh dear, a young girl has been missing for months and our super detective judge sorts it all out. A thrilling, exciting, marvellous look into another world and Time. Loved it. You will too. Mega recommendation.

[Trần Trường Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
Tập này hay xuất sắc.
Mọi thứ rất chi là rối, từ tuyến nhân vật cho đến tình tiết. Gây cấn, hồi hộp và kinh dị.

Vậy mà Địch đại nhân giải án thật sự rất hay, không nghĩ rằng ông ấy có thể giải mã vụ án chỉ với một mắt xích nhỏ như vậy.

Chưa kể tập này Mã Vinh cũng quá trời giỏi, không hổ danh là bật hảo hán.

[Kristine Laco]

This one I was gifted and was purchased at a used book store. What a ride! It honestly was so interesting to read something written in the 60s. There were so many words, phrases, and behaviours that would have trigger warnings today. If you get put out by some of the words we no longer accept as common, don't pick this one up.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical I stalment in the judge dee stories. Couple of related interlocking mysteries, mild action, puzzle and satisfying resolution bit in this one about tantric Buddhism, which I hadn’t really encountered (Sting doesn’t count)

[Monica Bond-Lamberty · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a good read.
Don't be put off by the lurid cover, or at least this version's lurid cover.
It does portray the strong anti-Buddhist sentiments of the time which has historical value for students/teachers of World History.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent Judge Dee novel that shares the intricacies of a rather complex, older Chinese society. Three seemingly different criminal cases show that there is a connection among them. Judge Dee is the one to connect the cases.