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Judge Dee #7
The Haunted Monastery
A.D. 666
Judge Dee and his entourage, seeking refuge from a mountain storm, become trapped in a Taoist monastery, where the Abbott Jade mysteriously dies after delivering an ecstatic sermon. The monks call it a supernatural experience, but the judge calls it murder. Recalling the allegedly accidental deaths of three young women in the same monastery, Judge Dee seeks clues in the eyes of a cat to solve cases of impersonation and murder. A painting by one of the victims reveals the truth about the killings, propelling the judge on a quest for justice and revenge.
"Entertaining, instructive, and impressive."—Times Literary Supplement
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
55 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
About the author
Robert van Gulik
160 books300 followersRobert 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 21, 2023
During the golden Tang Dynasty renowned for its arts and culture in old China, lived a famous magistrate ( Di Renjie, A.D. 630 to 700). Called Judge Dee in this book, he was an unusually honest man, noted for solving crimes later worked in the Imperial Court, in the capital, Luoyang. Became chancellor, a celebrated and effective official for the Empress Wu.You can still visit his lordship's tomb, that's history. Robert van Gulik loosely based his mystery novels on him......Our story begins in northern China, in the mountains. A sudden violent storm strikes Judge Dee's entourage, torrential rains fall, strong winds, thunder and lightning light up the sky.The wagon breaks an axle on the bad road and the judge with his three wives with him.The soaked Dee and his people need shelter and help quickly, nearby by good luck is a mysterious Taoist monastery, said to be haunted, they have no choice.The Morning Cloud Monastery is the biggest in the province but recently , three unfortunate young, pretty women have died there, the Judge has been too busy to investigate. He can only stay overnight, official business requires him to get to a certain city without delay. The monks are celebrating the 203rd anniversary of the glorious founding of their religious edifice.The huge old building is full of actors performing plays, animal acts, acrobatics, sword skills shown and the lively female dancers with the monks playing the music. Even an impudent poet, Tsung Lee, reciting rude words to the Abbott, while being taken to his rooms, Dee sees something strange that cannot be real. Since he is catching a disagreeable cold, Judge Dee dismisses it as a hallucination or were they, the images of ghosts? This is a superstitious age, a hundred years before, rebels had taken over the monastery, government soldiers slaughtered all of the outcasts. It was said the ghosts of the rebels still walk the dark passages of the building only lighted by an occasional lantern.True Wisdom, the abbot seems rather nervous, why? Sung Ming the famous Taoist scholar lives here too and helps the judge with the very strange happenings there.The curious vanishing of actors and others, Dee has only his lieutenant, Tao Gan with him.The magistrate, hates walking up and down all the many stair steps ( and he's still a relatively young man). Kuan Lai, director of the theatrical troupe needs to be interviewed, a vague, supernatural atmosphere, drenches the ancient, creepy monastery. Something evil will soon occur people can feel but can't stop it.They wait....for what? Superb murder mystery set in an exotic locale, in a distant, long ago time by a master writer at the top of his abilities....
June 30, 2017
Fresh off the case of The Chinese Gold Murders, I was rather looking forward to another of Judge Dee's adventures. Judge Dee and his retinue are returning from their travels when they are confronted with a terrible storm that will surely dump their carts off the mountainside if they try and shelter in place. The best spot to spend the night is the nearby Morning Cloud Monastery, already on the Judge's mental list for an upcoming visit for the deaths of three young women. Unfortunately, it's cold and rainy, and the Judge had caught a cold. There's nothing quite like reading descriptions of someone's crankiness, I must say; I found myself growing as grumpy as the Judge with his pounding headache.
"The judge tugged angrily at his beard. The ghostly voice had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Then he took hold of himself. Probably some monks were talking about him in another room or passage near there. Often the echo played queer tricks in such old building. He stood listening for a while, but did not hear anything. The whispers had ceased."
Though published in 1961, Van Gulik tried to balance a tale that would appeal to modern mystery tastes with that of more traditional Chinese mystery stories. Traditional stories often relied on supernatural elements, were frequently highly judgemental towards both Taoism and Buddhism and usually gave away the villain at the start. Though Van Gulik avoids going so far as to share the identity of the villain, he does enjoy creating the feel of pre-communist 7th century China.
As the Judge and his retinue arrive at the monastery, the Judge glimpses a man throttling a one-armed, naked woman, but before he really understand what he is seeing, the shutters crash close and he is unable to see more. As he tries to find the room where the possible crime is committed, the monastery is celebrating its two hundred and third birthday, and the monks are enjoying the work of a performing artist troupe and their bear. Also among the guests are an older established woman who is bringing a charge to the monastery to become a nun. In a move familiar to Shakespeare fans, one of the performers mocks the senior abbot, implying his personal gain from the untimely 'ascension' of his predecessor. It doesn't become a comedy of errors, sadly, so much as a peevish man trying to find a solution to a missing woman, a strange vision and the death of the prior abbot.
This all sounds rather interesting, of course, but various puzzles are solved less by cleverness than blind luck and perseverance.While I did enjoy parts of the tour through China past, I think the gestalt didn't balance out nearly as well as it did in The Gold Murders. It was hard for the writing to overcome the prejudices of the Judge, and of his frustration with the weather and the layout of the monastery. Luckily for the reader, Van Gulik provided both building and floor maps along with cast of characters. What was particularly interesting about the Judge in this one is that while he definitely had a religious intolerance, he was particularly tolerant with unwed relationships and lesbian relationships. Despite all that, I found myself falling asleep unfortunately often for a mystery, so take that for what you will.
The edition I read (combined with the Chinese Maze Murders) also had a number of plates drawn by Van Gulik "in the style of 16th century Chinese illustrated blockprints," in Ming dynasty style, but since block printing is a rather simplistic style, it didn't feel like they brought any depth to the story.
Two-and-a-half-stars, rounding up
"The judge tugged angrily at his beard. The ghostly voice had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Then he took hold of himself. Probably some monks were talking about him in another room or passage near there. Often the echo played queer tricks in such old building. He stood listening for a while, but did not hear anything. The whispers had ceased."
Though published in 1961, Van Gulik tried to balance a tale that would appeal to modern mystery tastes with that of more traditional Chinese mystery stories. Traditional stories often relied on supernatural elements, were frequently highly judgemental towards both Taoism and Buddhism and usually gave away the villain at the start. Though Van Gulik avoids going so far as to share the identity of the villain, he does enjoy creating the feel of pre-communist 7th century China.
As the Judge and his retinue arrive at the monastery, the Judge glimpses a man throttling a one-armed, naked woman, but before he really understand what he is seeing, the shutters crash close and he is unable to see more. As he tries to find the room where the possible crime is committed, the monastery is celebrating its two hundred and third birthday, and the monks are enjoying the work of a performing artist troupe and their bear. Also among the guests are an older established woman who is bringing a charge to the monastery to become a nun. In a move familiar to Shakespeare fans, one of the performers mocks the senior abbot, implying his personal gain from the untimely 'ascension' of his predecessor. It doesn't become a comedy of errors, sadly, so much as a peevish man trying to find a solution to a missing woman, a strange vision and the death of the prior abbot.
This all sounds rather interesting, of course, but various puzzles are solved less by cleverness than blind luck and perseverance.While I did enjoy parts of the tour through China past, I think the gestalt didn't balance out nearly as well as it did in The Gold Murders. It was hard for the writing to overcome the prejudices of the Judge, and of his frustration with the weather and the layout of the monastery. Luckily for the reader, Van Gulik provided both building and floor maps along with cast of characters. What was particularly interesting about the Judge in this one is that while he definitely had a religious intolerance, he was particularly tolerant with unwed relationships and lesbian relationships. Despite all that, I found myself falling asleep unfortunately often for a mystery, so take that for what you will.
The edition I read (combined with the Chinese Maze Murders) also had a number of plates drawn by Van Gulik "in the style of 16th century Chinese illustrated blockprints," in Ming dynasty style, but since block printing is a rather simplistic style, it didn't feel like they brought any depth to the story.
Two-and-a-half-stars, rounding up
October 27, 2016
Ο Δικαστής Τι, σε αυτή την περιπέτεια, βρίσκεται καταμεσής της ερημιάς κατά την διάρκεια μιας φοβερής καταιγίδας. Μοναδική λύση να καταφύγει σε ένα ταοϊστικό μοναστήρι που έχει την φήμη του στοιχειωμένου. Εκεί ο ήρωας μας έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με μια από τις πιο μακάβριες υποθέσεις που θα συναντήσει ποτέ. Η εικόνα μιας μονόχειρα νεαρής έρχεται και φεύγει, φωνές ψιθυρίζουν το όνομα του, σκιές αποπειρώνται να τον δολοφονήσουν, αγάλματα ματώνουν, ενώ φρικιαστικές τελετές έρχονται στο φως. Μια εκπληκτική περιπέτεια μυστηρίου, με ένα ασυνήθιστο τέλος.
August 3, 2021
Τον αγαπώ τόσο το δικαστή Τι. αν είχα κι αλλα θα τα διάβαζα ολα..... βρήκα κι άλλα!! Ουάου
May 24, 2021
This is a good historical mystery, set in China around 666 A.D. Judge Dee was a real person, but the series of stories by van Gulik are fictions. Dee and his three wives and their servants are forced to take refuge in a monastery when their cart breaks down. There has been a series of suspicious deaths of young women at the monastery, and as Dee and his wives are being led up to their room he sees a naked girl being menaced by a fierce-looking man through the window in an adjacent tower. Despite suffering from a bad cold, he solves quite a few old and current mysteries over the course of the long night. There's a large and quirky cast of characters, and I was reminded quite a bit of some of the works of Agatha Christie. There's some discussion comparing and contrasting the three prevalent religious philosophies of the time, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, which was interesting, though some of it may have gone over my head. Though Dee demonstrates a remarkable (for the time) tolerance for lesbianism, there's a somewhat misogynistic tone to the overall story, though that may just be a realistic portrayal of how things were. Overall, it's a nice jumble of mysteries with a clever and mostly likable master sleuth at the controls.
August 25, 2019
Ho sviluppato una nuova dipendenza per un’altra serie di crime: quelli con protagonista il giudice Dee. Roba che se mi avessero detto: ‘Ti piaceranno moltissimo dei romanzi gialli ambientati nell’antico impero cinese’, probabilmente non ci avrei mai creduto.
Eppure sono dei gialli che funzionano, forse perché, a ben vedere, si sente che non sono stati scritti nell’epoca in cui sono ambientati. C’è una modernità di pensiero, di struttura e anche nella - mi lancio - presentazione piuttosto violenta di una violenza realista e senza filtri di alcune scene e temi.
Si leggono queste avventure con una rapidità pazzesca. Merito della scrittura, del fatto che Dee è un personaggio capace di prendere il lettore, dell’ironia che fa da contrappunto alle vicende profondamente noir - appunto, di una sensibilità anche più moderna rispetto ad altre saghe contemporanee - e crude. Non manca una componente da romanzo d’appendice, sottotrame amorose a lieto fine, che si salvano nella smaccata consapevolezza con le quali l’autore le tratta da elemento sdolcinato richiesto più dall’epoca che da un’effettiva volontà dello scrittore, e per questo spesso ridimensionate dalla visione sarcastica che il giudice Dee ha di esse. Divertenti letture da spiaggia o treno.
Eppure sono dei gialli che funzionano, forse perché, a ben vedere, si sente che non sono stati scritti nell’epoca in cui sono ambientati. C’è una modernità di pensiero, di struttura e anche nella - mi lancio - presentazione piuttosto violenta di una violenza realista e senza filtri di alcune scene e temi.
Si leggono queste avventure con una rapidità pazzesca. Merito della scrittura, del fatto che Dee è un personaggio capace di prendere il lettore, dell’ironia che fa da contrappunto alle vicende profondamente noir - appunto, di una sensibilità anche più moderna rispetto ad altre saghe contemporanee - e crude. Non manca una componente da romanzo d’appendice, sottotrame amorose a lieto fine, che si salvano nella smaccata consapevolezza con le quali l’autore le tratta da elemento sdolcinato richiesto più dall’epoca che da un’effettiva volontà dello scrittore, e per questo spesso ridimensionate dalla visione sarcastica che il giudice Dee ha di esse. Divertenti letture da spiaggia o treno.
December 8, 2010
One of the creepiest Judge Dee stories - it's set in a secluded Taoist monastery in the mountains, in a monastery full of secret rooms and passages and crazy, crazy people - but also one of the funniest - Dee has the flu and he's even grumpier than what's usual for him. We also learn more about Dee's personal life, that he has three wives, called the First, Second and Third Lady in the book, and about his assistant, Tao Kan. The story itself is rather gory, bodies hacked apart and similar stuff. As I said, creepy.
July 13, 2022
3,5 αστέρια!
May 18, 2013
Author Robert van Gulik, an accomplished Dutch diplomat, linguist, and Orientalist, yet again proves himself a great writer as well with The Haunted Monastery, the fifth book in the wonderful Judge Dee mystery series. In this short book, set in western China (in what is modern-day Sichuan Province) in A.D. 666, Judge Dee takes refuge during a terrible rainstorm in the Monastery of the Morning Clouds. Judge Dee, had been traveling home with his entourage, when the cart broke an axle. Judge Dee, uneasy because of three mysterious deaths at the Taoist monastery the previous year, takes advantage of his ill luck to investigate the deaths and some other strange goings-on. His decision leads to a close brush with death as the perpetrators panic when Judge Dee starts getting too close. Most Judge Dee novels demand to be devoured, but this one is even more exciting than most!
Van Gulik, staying true to Chinese tradition, sprinkles three mysteries into The Haunted Monastery; as is less usual, the three are intertwined in this case. In the end, Judge Dee not only solves the requisite three mysteries, but he also makes it possible for two couples to fall in love and marry -- despite being uncharacteristically cranky throughout the novel because of a head cold! The novel also contains much information on ancient Taoist monasteries, customs, and beliefs; T'ang Dynasty politics, the lives of actors and acrobats of the time, and the ancient Chinese's rather enlightened attitude toward homosexuality. (The latter must have appeared quite shocking to Western readers who read The Haunted Monastery in 1961, when it was first published.)
Judge Dee was a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh. The 7th century jurist became noted for his incisive mind and quest for justice for all. Simplifying the magistrate's name to Judge Dee Jen-djieh, van Gulik introduced the world to Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976), which was based on 18th century Chinese mystery novels. Van Gulik's ensuing Judge Dee books, while original, always included aspects the author gleaned from ancient records or other 18th century Chinese mysteries. In this case, van Gulik included the Confucianist view of Taoism as less than savory albeit better than the despised imported religion, Buddhism, and the biggest clue in the Case of the Embalmed Abbot.
Van Gulik, staying true to Chinese tradition, sprinkles three mysteries into The Haunted Monastery; as is less usual, the three are intertwined in this case. In the end, Judge Dee not only solves the requisite three mysteries, but he also makes it possible for two couples to fall in love and marry -- despite being uncharacteristically cranky throughout the novel because of a head cold! The novel also contains much information on ancient Taoist monasteries, customs, and beliefs; T'ang Dynasty politics, the lives of actors and acrobats of the time, and the ancient Chinese's rather enlightened attitude toward homosexuality. (The latter must have appeared quite shocking to Western readers who read The Haunted Monastery in 1961, when it was first published.)
Judge Dee was a real-life Chinese magistrate during the T'ang Dynasty named Ti Jen-chieh. The 7th century jurist became noted for his incisive mind and quest for justice for all. Simplifying the magistrate's name to Judge Dee Jen-djieh, van Gulik introduced the world to Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, first published in 1949 (although not translated into English until 1976), which was based on 18th century Chinese mystery novels. Van Gulik's ensuing Judge Dee books, while original, always included aspects the author gleaned from ancient records or other 18th century Chinese mysteries. In this case, van Gulik included the Confucianist view of Taoism as less than savory albeit better than the despised imported religion, Buddhism, and the biggest clue in the Case of the Embalmed Abbot.
April 9, 2022
One surprise development in The Haunted Monastery did shock me. I didn't see it coming. Alas, I risk spoiling the story should I say much more. Otherwise, the crime and investigation develops like most other Judge Dee stories. It's usually clear to the reader who the main villain is far before Dee himself realizes the identity of the killer/fraudster/thief/liar. The interest, however, is in watching Dee operate. And in observing the development of his character. In this story, there is a major development. In earlier books, I've seen Dee give way from being a dispassionate, calculating, and unrelenting arm of the law to a man easily frustrated and upset at his own limitations. He continues along those lines in Haunted Monastery. Here, in fact, he reaches a point of no return. I don't think it spoils anything to say that Judge Dee commits premeditated murder. And Van Gulik only tries half-heartedly to defend him from it. This type development is what makes these Judge Dee mysteries so interesting. Van Gulik even supplies a philosophic discussion surrounding the issue, introducing his own distrust of Taoism (which pairs with his earlier proclamations against Buddhism in other Judge Dee tales) and his rather rigid defense of Confucianism. This is a novel in which Van Gulik tells us as much about himself as he does about Dee.
August 22, 2016
Ευκολοδιάβαστο βιβλίο που όμως σε μεταφέρει άψογα στην αρχαία Κίνα. Μου άρεσε η γραφή του Van Gulik και ας μην είναι ιδιαίτερα λογοτεχνική. Το μυστήριο πλέκεται όμορφα και ο αναγνώστης μαζί με τον Δικαστή Τι προχωρούν στην επίλυση του. Επίσης υπάρχουν πολλά στοιχεία που εξηγούν της έννοιες του Κουμφουκιανισμού και του Ταοϊσμού που το κάνει ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον. Σίγουρα θα διαβάσω κ άλλες περιπέτειας του Δικαστή Τι.
September 6, 2020
Judge Dee is traveling with his three wives when the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse, forcing him to seek shelter at a Taoist monastery. When a gust of wind blows open the window in his room, Dee witnesses a possible crime: a man in a helmet attacking a naked one-armed woman. However, when he asks to see the part of the monastery where the crime occurred, not only is there no trace of the man and woman, there's also no window. The only window it could have been was bricked up long ago.
The weather has given Judge Dee the beginnings of a terrible cold, so he wonders whether the scene he saw was an hallucination, or possibly even ghosts. However, as he meets the Abbot and the other visitors at the monastery, he strongly suspects that his vision might be connected to the three relatively recent deaths that occurred at this same monastery, all involving young women.
I had previously read van Gulik's translation of Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee and enjoyed it much more than I had expected to, so I was curious to see what his original Judge Dee mysteries would be like. This is the first one I've tried. Although it wasn't bad, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. One of the best things about Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee was van Gulik's analysis of its legal aspects, and I had hoped that this original mystery would work in some similarly fascinating details. Unfortunately, that wasn't really the case, and van Gulik's postscript was brief.
One thing I did find interesting, and that I wish van Gulik had thought worth talking about in his postscript, was Judge Dee's reaction to a female character who was questioning her sexuality and asked Dee for advice. He was much more open-minded than I'd have expected, telling her to take her time and make whatever decision felt best to her. Although I doubted he'd have approved of her being in a lesbian relationship, since he didn't approve of nuns due to his belief that women were meant to marry and bear children, he made it clear that the decisions of consenting adults who didn't have minors or dependents to worry about weren't his or the law's concern. (FYI,
The mystery was so-so, and somewhat tamer than I expected based on what I'd remembered of Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. No torture or beatings at all - I suppose van Gulik felt he should scale that sort of thing that back in his original mysteries. There was one instance of "justice accomplished via gruesome murder," though, and the monastery had a Gallery of Horrors, statues depicting the various ways sinners could expect to be punished.
It seemed like most of this mystery just sort of fell into place as Judge Dee ran up and down stairs from one room to another, trying not to look as sick as he felt (until he magically stopped feeling sick). There were a few details I liked, and Miss Ting was a nice character, but overall this wasn't particularly memorable. I do still want to read van Gulik's other Judge Dee mysteries, though.
Extras:
Several black-and-white illustrations by the author, done in an imitation of 6th-century Chinese blockprints, a list of the characters (which I just noticed van Gulik grouped together according to the mysteries they were involved in, even though all the mysterious goings on in this book were pretty well blended together), a map of the monastery, and a brief postscript by the author.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
The weather has given Judge Dee the beginnings of a terrible cold, so he wonders whether the scene he saw was an hallucination, or possibly even ghosts. However, as he meets the Abbot and the other visitors at the monastery, he strongly suspects that his vision might be connected to the three relatively recent deaths that occurred at this same monastery, all involving young women.
I had previously read van Gulik's translation of Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee and enjoyed it much more than I had expected to, so I was curious to see what his original Judge Dee mysteries would be like. This is the first one I've tried. Although it wasn't bad, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. One of the best things about Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee was van Gulik's analysis of its legal aspects, and I had hoped that this original mystery would work in some similarly fascinating details. Unfortunately, that wasn't really the case, and van Gulik's postscript was brief.
One thing I did find interesting, and that I wish van Gulik had thought worth talking about in his postscript, was Judge Dee's reaction to a female character who was questioning her sexuality and asked Dee for advice. He was much more open-minded than I'd have expected, telling her to take her time and make whatever decision felt best to her. Although I doubted he'd have approved of her being in a lesbian relationship, since he didn't approve of nuns due to his belief that women were meant to marry and bear children, he made it clear that the decisions of consenting adults who didn't have minors or dependents to worry about weren't his or the law's concern. (FYI,
The mystery was so-so, and somewhat tamer than I expected based on what I'd remembered of Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. No torture or beatings at all - I suppose van Gulik felt he should scale that sort of thing that back in his original mysteries. There was one instance of "justice accomplished via gruesome murder," though, and the monastery had a Gallery of Horrors, statues depicting the various ways sinners could expect to be punished.
It seemed like most of this mystery just sort of fell into place as Judge Dee ran up and down stairs from one room to another, trying not to look as sick as he felt (until he magically stopped feeling sick). There were a few details I liked, and Miss Ting was a nice character, but overall this wasn't particularly memorable. I do still want to read van Gulik's other Judge Dee mysteries, though.
Extras:
Several black-and-white illustrations by the author, done in an imitation of 6th-century Chinese blockprints, a list of the characters (which I just noticed van Gulik grouped together according to the mysteries they were involved in, even though all the mysterious goings on in this book were pretty well blended together), a map of the monastery, and a brief postscript by the author.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
April 27, 2016
ίσως 4,5*. το δεύτερο βιβλίο που διαβάζω από τον δικαστή τι και ήταν κι αυτό πολύ καλό μας καλό μυστήριο και πάντα πολύ συμπαθή τον κεντρικό ήρωα. το μόνο ίσως πρόβλημα είναι ότι αυτή τη φορά βρήκα νωρίς τον ένοχο...
November 12, 2023
I like the setting of the book in an old, big monastery with hidden passages and rooms. This always provides a special atmosphere. Additionaly, there are several mysteries regarding different people which makes the book even better. Thanks to the setting, we can imagine how old monasteries worked. However, in this part judge Di seems a bit hot-headed and not always reasonable. This makes him more human, I guess. The ending is also not usual and outside of the judge's law.
September 30, 2020
https://dominicamat.blogspot.com/2020...
Κυκλοφόρησε πρόσφατα από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας το τέταρτο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα του συγγραφέα κυρίου Ρόμπερτ βαν Γκούλικ που αναφέρεται στις έρευνες του Δικαστή Τι,με τίτλο ''To στοιχειωμένο μοναστήρι''. Έχοντας διαβάσει ήδη τα τρία προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς,ένιωσα μεγάλη ευχαρίστηση που μου δόθηκε η δυνατότητα να διαβάσω κι αυτό το βιβλίο.
Ο συγγραφέας επιλέγει να χρησιμοποιήσει για ακόμη μία φορά το ίδιο μοτίβο γραφής καί να κοσμήσει τις σελίδες του βιβλίου με δέκα εικόνες σχεδιασμένες από τον ίδιο,που βασίζονται στην κινεζική τεχνοτροπία. Θεωρώ πως αυτή η κίνηση του συγγραφέα είναι σωστή γιατί ως αναγνώστες μπορούμε πιο εύκολα να σχηματίσουμε στο μυαλό μας τόσο την εικόνα των ηρώων,όσο καί των τοπίων που θα λάβουν χώρα τα γεγονότα. Η μόνη διαφορά που εντόπισα σε αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν πως ο λόγος του συγγραφέα ήταν πιο μεστός καί πιο συγκροτημένος. Μπορώ να σας πώ ότι μου άρεσε ακόμη περισσότερο από τα άλλα βιβλία καί έμεινα πολύ ικανοποιημένη από την ανάγνωσή του.
Τα βιβλία που αναφέρονται στις έρευνες του Δικαστή Τι,εκτός από πρωτότυπα καί ευκολοδιάβαστα,μοιάζουν σαν μικρές σπαζοκεφαλιές που μέσα απ΄τις αλληλένδετες καί φαινομενικά ασύνδετες μεταξύ τους ιστορίες,''παιδεύουν'' με ευφυή καί δημιουργικό τρόπο το μυαλό των αναγνωστών,με αποτέλεσμα να τους κρατούν σε εγρήγορση. Όλα τα μυθιστορήματα του συγγραφέα εκμπέμπουν ένα μυστήριο καί μία ''λαγνεία'' που προσελκύει το αναγνωστικό κοινό,κιόλας,απ΄τον τίτλο τους. Δεν τους αποσπά τίποτα το ενδιαφέρον καί την προσοχή μέχρι να φτάσουν στο τέλος της υπόθεσης. Προσωπικά θεωρώ πως δεν θα βαρεθώ ποτέ να διαβάζω τα συγκεκριμένα βιβλία.
Άν καί ο Δικαστής Τι ήταν υπαρκτό πρόσωπο,αυτήν την φορά ο συγγραφέας επέλεξε να φτιάξει μία ιστορία που είναι εξ ολοκλήρου αποκύημα της φαντασίας του. Συνδύασε,επίσης,τις αναφορές στα θρησκευτικά δόγματα που επικρατούσαν εκείνη την περίοδο καί ακολουθούνταν από κάποιους ήρωες του κειμένου. Κατ'εμέ ήταν μία εύστοχη κίνηση αυτή η επιλογή του συγγραφέα. Μέσα από τις διαφορές των θρησκειών,φαίνεται καί ο τρόπος σκέψης των ηρώων.
''Ο Δικαστής Τι και η συνοδεία του, παγιδευμένοι σε μια καταιγίδα στα βουνά, βρίσκουν καταφύγιο σε ένα ταοϊστικό μοναστήρι. Εκεί ο ηγούμενος πεθαίνει μυστηριωδώς αφού πρώτα παραδώσει ένα εκστατικό κήρυγμα. Οι μοναχοί το αποκαλούν μεταφυσική εμπειρία, ο δικαστής όμως πιστεύει ότι πρόκειται για δολοφονία. Ανακαλεί στη μνήμη του τους υποτιθέμενους τυχαίους θανάτους τριών νεαρών γυναικών στο ίδιο μοναστήρι, ενώ την ίδια στιγμή φευγαλέα οράματα και μυστηριώδεις φωνές κλονίζουν τη λογική του. Ο δικαστής ζητά μια κάτοψη του αχανούς κτιρίου και ξεκινά την έρευνα, ανακρίνοντας έναν θίασο ηθοποιών που βρίσκονται στο μοναστήρι. Ένας μυστηριώδης πίνακας ζωγραφισμένος από το χέρι ενός θύματος αποκαλύπτει ένα σημαντικό στοιχείο για τις δολοφονίες, μέχρι που ο ίδιος ο δικαστής γίνεται ο επόμενος στόχος ενός σατανικού δολοφόνου.''(Περίληψη οπισθοφύλλου)
Στα επιπλέον θετικά στοιχεία του βιβλίου μπορεί να προστεθεί η ανάγκη του συγγραφέα για αναζωογόνηση του ίδιου του ήρωα. Τι θέλω να πώ με αυτό. Στο παρόν βιβλίο ο Δικαστής Τι μοιάζει να είναι πιο ανθρώπινος καί προσιτός. Μαθαίνουμε κάποιες πληροφορίες για την καθημερινή,ιδιωτική του ζωή καί τρόπο τινά αποβάλλει από πάνω του το σκληρό κι αυταρχικό προσωπείο που φέρει λόγω του αξιώματός του. Είδαμε μία άλλη πλευρά του χαρακτήρα του. Εμπνέει οικειότητα στους αναγνώστες.
Το βιβλίο το διάβασα απνευστί μέσα σε λίγες ώρες καί σας το προτείνω με μεγάλη σιγουριά. Εάν δεν έχει τύχει να διαβάσετε μέχρι τώρα κάποιο άλλο της σειράς,μπορείτε να τα αναζητήσετε καί να τα διαβάσετε όλα μαζί. Έτσι,θα έχετε μία πιο ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα. Εγώ θα περιμένω με ανυπομονησία να εκδοθεί,με το καλό,το επόμενο.
Καλά σας αναγνώσματα!
Κυκλοφόρησε πρόσφατα από τις εκδόσεις Μίνωας το τέταρτο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα του συγγραφέα κυρίου Ρόμπερτ βαν Γκούλικ που αναφέρεται στις έρευνες του Δικαστή Τι,με τίτλο ''To στοιχειωμένο μοναστήρι''. Έχοντας διαβάσει ήδη τα τρία προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς,ένιωσα μεγάλη ευχαρίστηση που μου δόθηκε η δυνατότητα να διαβάσω κι αυτό το βιβλίο.
Ο συγγραφέας επιλέγει να χρησιμοποιήσει για ακόμη μία φορά το ίδιο μοτίβο γραφής καί να κοσμήσει τις σελίδες του βιβλίου με δέκα εικόνες σχεδιασμένες από τον ίδιο,που βασίζονται στην κινεζική τεχνοτροπία. Θεωρώ πως αυτή η κίνηση του συγγραφέα είναι σωστή γιατί ως αναγνώστες μπορούμε πιο εύκολα να σχηματίσουμε στο μυαλό μας τόσο την εικόνα των ηρώων,όσο καί των τοπίων που θα λάβουν χώρα τα γεγονότα. Η μόνη διαφορά που εντόπισα σε αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν πως ο λόγος του συγγραφέα ήταν πιο μεστός καί πιο συγκροτημένος. Μπορώ να σας πώ ότι μου άρεσε ακόμη περισσότερο από τα άλλα βιβλία καί έμεινα πολύ ικανοποιημένη από την ανάγνωσή του.
Τα βιβλία που αναφέρονται στις έρευνες του Δικαστή Τι,εκτός από πρωτότυπα καί ευκολοδιάβαστα,μοιάζουν σαν μικρές σπαζοκεφαλιές που μέσα απ΄τις αλληλένδετες καί φαινομενικά ασύνδετες μεταξύ τους ιστορίες,''παιδεύουν'' με ευφυή καί δημιουργικό τρόπο το μυαλό των αναγνωστών,με αποτέλεσμα να τους κρατούν σε εγρήγορση. Όλα τα μυθιστορήματα του συγγραφέα εκμπέμπουν ένα μυστήριο καί μία ''λαγνεία'' που προσελκύει το αναγνωστικό κοινό,κιόλας,απ΄τον τίτλο τους. Δεν τους αποσπά τίποτα το ενδιαφέρον καί την προσοχή μέχρι να φτάσουν στο τέλος της υπόθεσης. Προσωπικά θεωρώ πως δεν θα βαρεθώ ποτέ να διαβάζω τα συγκεκριμένα βιβλία.
Άν καί ο Δικαστής Τι ήταν υπαρκτό πρόσωπο,αυτήν την φορά ο συγγραφέας επέλεξε να φτιάξει μία ιστορία που είναι εξ ολοκλήρου αποκύημα της φαντασίας του. Συνδύασε,επίσης,τις αναφορές στα θρησκευτικά δόγματα που επικρατούσαν εκείνη την περίοδο καί ακολουθούνταν από κάποιους ήρωες του κειμένου. Κατ'εμέ ήταν μία εύστοχη κίνηση αυτή η επιλογή του συγγραφέα. Μέσα από τις διαφορές των θρησκειών,φαίνεται καί ο τρόπος σκέψης των ηρώων.
''Ο Δικαστής Τι και η συνοδεία του, παγιδευμένοι σε μια καταιγίδα στα βουνά, βρίσκουν καταφύγιο σε ένα ταοϊστικό μοναστήρι. Εκεί ο ηγούμενος πεθαίνει μυστηριωδώς αφού πρώτα παραδώσει ένα εκστατικό κήρυγμα. Οι μοναχοί το αποκαλούν μεταφυσική εμπειρία, ο δικαστής όμως πιστεύει ότι πρόκειται για δολοφονία. Ανακαλεί στη μνήμη του τους υποτιθέμενους τυχαίους θανάτους τριών νεαρών γυναικών στο ίδιο μοναστήρι, ενώ την ίδια στιγμή φευγαλέα οράματα και μυστηριώδεις φωνές κλονίζουν τη λογική του. Ο δικαστής ζητά μια κάτοψη του αχανούς κτιρίου και ξεκινά την έρευνα, ανακρίνοντας έναν θίασο ηθοποιών που βρίσκονται στο μοναστήρι. Ένας μυστηριώδης πίνακας ζωγραφισμένος από το χέρι ενός θύματος αποκαλύπτει ένα σημαντικό στοιχείο για τις δολοφονίες, μέχρι που ο ίδιος ο δικαστής γίνεται ο επόμενος στόχος ενός σατανικού δολοφόνου.''(Περίληψη οπισθοφύλλου)
Στα επιπλέον θετικά στοιχεία του βιβλίου μπορεί να προστεθεί η ανάγκη του συγγραφέα για αναζωογόνηση του ίδιου του ήρωα. Τι θέλω να πώ με αυτό. Στο παρόν βιβλίο ο Δικαστής Τι μοιάζει να είναι πιο ανθρώπινος καί προσιτός. Μαθαίνουμε κάποιες πληροφορίες για την καθημερινή,ιδιωτική του ζωή καί τρόπο τινά αποβάλλει από πάνω του το σκληρό κι αυταρχικό προσωπείο που φέρει λόγω του αξιώματός του. Είδαμε μία άλλη πλευρά του χαρακτήρα του. Εμπνέει οικειότητα στους αναγνώστες.
Το βιβλίο το διάβασα απνευστί μέσα σε λίγες ώρες καί σας το προτείνω με μεγάλη σιγουριά. Εάν δεν έχει τύχει να διαβάσετε μέχρι τώρα κάποιο άλλο της σειράς,μπορείτε να τα αναζητήσετε καί να τα διαβάσετε όλα μαζί. Έτσι,θα έχετε μία πιο ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα. Εγώ θα περιμένω με ανυπομονησία να εκδοθεί,με το καλό,το επόμενο.
Καλά σας αναγνώσματα!
January 13, 2014
This book has a similarity to Sherlock Holmes in the way that the mystery is revealed and built up too. It is set in a Taoist Monastery on a cliff where Judge Dee, the Magistrate of the province along with his wives, stops on a Journey due to a storm. He gets engaged in investigating the deaths of multiple young girls who lost their lives due to "natural causes", but had never been documented. Many mysterious happenings go on while the judge is at the Monastery and one can instantly tell that all is not right, especially when attempts are made on the judges life. This book is very appealing to people interested in mystery and crime stories especially because it isn't traditional, and involves various aspects of the early Chinese society that makes solving crime more interesting and raw. Its different then modern day techniques that we are all so familiar with because of all of the crime shows that are on t.v. This book should be read because it presents a different version of criminal investigation then what we are used too, where the judge is also the detective.
December 20, 2022
This is a slow, slow descriptive, descriptive shallow, shallow.
If I were just learning how to write this would be a perfect example. Forty-five percent of the book is described. Who cares if Judge Dee has three or four hairs growing out of the mole on his face? And evidently, he prefers girls with bushy eyebrows.
Other than that it could be a decent mystery if it did not drag on and on. This may be due to the story being a little too short to publish; it took up three cassettes. The mystery itself is O.K. there are no last-minute butlers to show up and confess. This is part of some Judge Dee series. So, someone must like his writing style.
The story takes place in a monastery where Judge Dee just happens to be passing during a storm and needs a place to stay with his three wives. He whiteness some impossible things and meets some mysterious people.
If I were just learning how to write this would be a perfect example. Forty-five percent of the book is described. Who cares if Judge Dee has three or four hairs growing out of the mole on his face? And evidently, he prefers girls with bushy eyebrows.
Other than that it could be a decent mystery if it did not drag on and on. This may be due to the story being a little too short to publish; it took up three cassettes. The mystery itself is O.K. there are no last-minute butlers to show up and confess. This is part of some Judge Dee series. So, someone must like his writing style.
The story takes place in a monastery where Judge Dee just happens to be passing during a storm and needs a place to stay with his three wives. He whiteness some impossible things and meets some mysterious people.
June 19, 2021
Ένα διαφορετικό βιβλίο στην αστυνομική λογοτεχνία μυστηρίου... Η ασιατική κουλτούρα πρωταγωνιστει με έναν συμπαθέστατο ήρωα, τον Δικαστή Τι, σε ένα υποβλητικο σκηνικό, μια νύχτα με καταιγίδα σε ένα ταοϊστικό μοναστήρι.... Και η ιστορία ξετυλίγεται....
Απόλαυσα την ατμόσφαιρα, την πλοκή, τους χαρακτήρες, το ευφυές χιούμορ και τον τρόπο που λύθηκε το κουβάρι του μυστηρίου!
Must read Για τους φαν του ειδους😉
Απόλαυσα την ατμόσφαιρα, την πλοκή, τους χαρακτήρες, το ευφυές χιούμορ και τον τρόπο που λύθηκε το κουβάρι του μυστηρίου!
Must read Για τους φαν του ειδους😉
September 7, 2022
Ah, another Judge Dee, alas - the last one. Fortunately a good one! The plot takes place and is concluded in a very short timespan, but the pace doesn't seem to breakneck. The atmosphere of the (supposedly) haunted monastery is great and the conflicts between the three main religions in historical China show us a lot of the ordinary life and customs at that time.
The plots and riddles are also quite interesting, with some particularly interesting characters this time around. Pity we had only one of Dee's companions, their interactions are always wonderful.
I've heard some French guy was writing new Judge Dee stories in the style of van Grulik. I need to wait until they get translated into some civilized language.
The plots and riddles are also quite interesting, with some particularly interesting characters this time around. Pity we had only one of Dee's companions, their interactions are always wonderful.
I've heard some French guy was writing new Judge Dee stories in the style of van Grulik. I need to wait until they get translated into some civilized language.
December 13, 2022
This ended up better than I expected. I had never heard of this author before, but the idea of a Chinese mystery sounded great and, while it took a little to pick up the pace, it became really interesting towards the end. Usually I just have one mystery per novel, but this monastery was full of them! I think there were about 5 different ones, so there was a lot of information at some point.
I found Judge Dee a conflicting character, as he is mostly rude to everyone around him, as some other detectives I know, but he does have great deducting abilities so he can work everything out with just enough information. The novel is also quite old and you can tell from the writing and the stereotypes, so if you’re not a fan of older novels this might not be for you.
I found Judge Dee a conflicting character, as he is mostly rude to everyone around him, as some other detectives I know, but he does have great deducting abilities so he can work everything out with just enough information. The novel is also quite old and you can tell from the writing and the stereotypes, so if you’re not a fan of older novels this might not be for you.
January 9, 2019
1987. aastal ilmus see topeltköite "Kummitused kloostris/Lakksirm" esimese poolena ja pani kogu tolleaegse lugeva ENSV 1300 aastat varem vana-Hiinas Tangide dünastia ajal keerukaid mõrvu ja saladuslikke juhtumeid lahendava kohtunik Dee karakterit teiste tuntud kirjanduslike detektiividega, igasugu Holmeside, miss Marplete ja Nero Wolfe'tega ühte pingeritta. Torm mägedes, hiiglaslik salapärane klooster, kummitused, värvikad kurikaelad, ja - last but definitely not the least - seksuaalsete orgiate ja erootiliste saladuste vaevuaimatav kuma kogu selle kloostri ja nende saladuslike juhtumite kohal - mis siin on üldse midagi, mis EI meeldiks...?
February 20, 2022
This is the first book I've read by Robert van Gulik and I enjoyed this book so much I plan to read more in the series. Judge Dee is based on historical figure Di Renjie, Duke Wenhui of Liang.
What I appreciated about this book was how life in the Tang Dynasty was vividly written. I learned a great deal about Confucianism, Taoism, and how the law worked in that time period. The mystery (or mysteries, since there were three deaths that ended up being interconnected) kept me guessing until the end. Judge Dee used his powers of observation and dispensed justice. I also liked the author's illustrations throughout the book.
What I appreciated about this book was how life in the Tang Dynasty was vividly written. I learned a great deal about Confucianism, Taoism, and how the law worked in that time period. The mystery (or mysteries, since there were three deaths that ended up being interconnected) kept me guessing until the end. Judge Dee used his powers of observation and dispensed justice. I also liked the author's illustrations throughout the book.
November 23, 2017
I chose this rather off-beat book because after a series of earnest and undoubtedly literate novels and a thoroughly sobering examination of today's increasingly dangerous world, I had an appetite for an old-fashioned mystery. This is about as old-fashioned as you can get, written in 1961 and set in the 7th century CE. The setting and atmosphere begin well: A sinister ancient monastery in the mountains in China, a violent storm, dark night, evil afoot.
As promised, the mystery is suitably inscrutable and there are several well-crafted deceptions to keep a reader guessing. A pleasant diversion.
As promised, the mystery is suitably inscrutable and there are several well-crafted deceptions to keep a reader guessing. A pleasant diversion.
March 18, 2024
Κάθε δαιμονικό κακό η Αλήθεια και ο Λόγος θα διαλύσουν,
Το σκιερό φονικό φυτό για πάντα θα νικήσουν
Τα πρωινά σύννεφα στο Φως το Αιώνιο θα σκορπίσουν!
[... ]
«Ο θάνατος είναι επιστροφή στην εστία
Επιστροφή στην εστία, στο σπίτι του πατέρα,
Σταγόνα που ξαναπέφτει στο ποτάμι,
Στον μεγάλο ποταμό που κυλά αιώνια».
Το σκιερό φονικό φυτό για πάντα θα νικήσουν
Τα πρωινά σύννεφα στο Φως το Αιώνιο θα σκορπίσουν!
[... ]
«Ο θάνατος είναι επιστροφή στην εστία
Επιστροφή στην εστία, στο σπίτι του πατέρα,
Σταγόνα που ξαναπέφτει στο ποτάμι,
Στον μεγάλο ποταμό που κυλά αιώνια».
September 23, 2024
In the mountains above Hanyuan, Judge Dee has been caught together with Tao Gan and his three wives in the middle of a thunderstorm. They must take refuge at the Daoist monastery Chaoyunguan, where during the Northern Wei dynasty a peasant revolt was violently quelled, and where more recently three young girls have died mysterious and unexplained deaths. In addition, Judge Dee begins seeing ghostly apparitions and hearing strange whispers in the monastery halls. In spite of these hauntings and in spite of suffering a miserable head-cold, Judge Dee begins investigating these three deaths and soon finds himself hot on the trail of an utterly ruthless, amoral killer.
Van Gulik rather played up Di Renjie's antipathy toward Daoism in this novel, though that's partly explained by his ill temper at being caught sick in a rainstorm. Even so, some of the philosophical differences between Daoism and Confucianism are explored, and the book touches on one of the common complaints against Daoism during times of its unpopularity. Van Gulik does a superb job with this novel, though, in restricting it to a closed setting and removing many of Judge Dee's usual tricks - such as going incognito and assigning his assistants to follow and observe suspects. He does a wonderful job of mounting tension as the Judge finds himself having to outwit the killer, before he manages to kill another unfortunate young woman.
And even though the setting is in a monastery, van Gulik's beloved criminal underworld and the seamier side of the Chinese Old Society still manage to make themselves felt. Vagrant Daoist monks and procurers are among the splendidly-colourful cast. Interestingly enough, the 'low-class' acting troupe led by Guan Lai are treated with a very high level of respect by Judge Dee, and deservedly so: the actress Ding Xiang turns out to be a remarkably able and quick-witted temporary assistant for the Judge. In addition, the Judge rather reluctantly enlists the help of the heavy-drinking young poet Zong Li, who is wooing with his doggerel a young novitiate nun named Bai Meigui, to investigate the three murders.
The former abbot of the monastery, Yuguan, had recently peacefully reposed after having delivered a profound and subtle sermon on Daoist doctrine, but Zong Li still suspects foul play on the part of his then-prior, the current abbot Zhenzhi. One of the actresses, surnamed Ouyang, has an unexplained connexion with Bai Meigui. And one of her fellow-actors, Mo Mo, has a nasty habit of disappearing and reappearing at whim. Judge Dee has to solve a number of these riddles involving secret passages and locks, paintings with hidden meanings and a 'gallery of horrors' whose horrors turn out to be all-too-real.
Robert van Gulik sticks a bit loosely in this case to his gong'an formula involving multiple cases to be solved simultaneously, and the minor characters in this one on the whole end up much more happily than they do in his other books. (At one point Judge Dee even remarks that he should retire from being a magistrate and set up shop as a professional matchmaker.) At the same time, a bit of van Gulik's later cynicism about the inner workings of the Old Society at its highest levels begins to creep in, and Judge Dee's faith in earthly justice gets a pretty bad shake. I appreciate in this particular novel that van Gulik gives his usual formula an interesting twist and delivers a highly-enjoyable, fast-paced murder mystery.
Van Gulik rather played up Di Renjie's antipathy toward Daoism in this novel, though that's partly explained by his ill temper at being caught sick in a rainstorm. Even so, some of the philosophical differences between Daoism and Confucianism are explored, and the book touches on one of the common complaints against Daoism during times of its unpopularity. Van Gulik does a superb job with this novel, though, in restricting it to a closed setting and removing many of Judge Dee's usual tricks - such as going incognito and assigning his assistants to follow and observe suspects. He does a wonderful job of mounting tension as the Judge finds himself having to outwit the killer, before he manages to kill another unfortunate young woman.
And even though the setting is in a monastery, van Gulik's beloved criminal underworld and the seamier side of the Chinese Old Society still manage to make themselves felt. Vagrant Daoist monks and procurers are among the splendidly-colourful cast. Interestingly enough, the 'low-class' acting troupe led by Guan Lai are treated with a very high level of respect by Judge Dee, and deservedly so: the actress Ding Xiang turns out to be a remarkably able and quick-witted temporary assistant for the Judge. In addition, the Judge rather reluctantly enlists the help of the heavy-drinking young poet Zong Li, who is wooing with his doggerel a young novitiate nun named Bai Meigui, to investigate the three murders.
The former abbot of the monastery, Yuguan, had recently peacefully reposed after having delivered a profound and subtle sermon on Daoist doctrine, but Zong Li still suspects foul play on the part of his then-prior, the current abbot Zhenzhi. One of the actresses, surnamed Ouyang, has an unexplained connexion with Bai Meigui. And one of her fellow-actors, Mo Mo, has a nasty habit of disappearing and reappearing at whim. Judge Dee has to solve a number of these riddles involving secret passages and locks, paintings with hidden meanings and a 'gallery of horrors' whose horrors turn out to be all-too-real.
Robert van Gulik sticks a bit loosely in this case to his gong'an formula involving multiple cases to be solved simultaneously, and the minor characters in this one on the whole end up much more happily than they do in his other books. (At one point Judge Dee even remarks that he should retire from being a magistrate and set up shop as a professional matchmaker.) At the same time, a bit of van Gulik's later cynicism about the inner workings of the Old Society at its highest levels begins to creep in, and Judge Dee's faith in earthly justice gets a pretty bad shake. I appreciate in this particular novel that van Gulik gives his usual formula an interesting twist and delivers a highly-enjoyable, fast-paced murder mystery.
August 28, 2021
Tang-dynasty administrator Judge Dee is traveling with his entourage, including his three wives, when a severe storm forces him to take refuge in an old Taoist monastery. It was a place he'd been planning to investigate, as he'd heard reports that three young women had died there in the last year. But upon his arrival a horrifying and possibly supernatural vision, adds sudden urgency to his investigation.
At the monastery, Judge Dee finds a troupe of actors who have arrived to perform mystery plays, with an act that includes a live bear. But as it gets later into the night, Dee finds that nearly everyone is hiding secrets and hidden agendas.
This was a fun story, particularly for the interplay between the increasingly frustrated Dee and his loyal and roguish assistant Tao Gan.
I read Van Gulik's Judge Dee At Work as a child, and remember enjoying it then. This book was definitely not for children, as things escalated into a particularly nasty torture/bondage scene, not to mention various other deaths and dismemberments.
I liked Dee a lot. He is clearly brilliant, and becomes less and less patient with those around him and with his own failings to put the clues together as he battles the onset of a bad cold and sleep deprivation, plus a bit of addling from a blow to the head. By the end of the long night Dee has exactly zero fucks left to give, and the villain, when finally revealed, ends of paying the price.
In spite of some of the more gruesome bits, the story has a decent amount of humor, a bit of romance, and a healthy polyamorous relationship between Dee and his wives. Dee even gives his stamp of approval to a woman who admits having an interest in pursuing a lesbian relationship (essentially telling her "as long as it's between consenting adults, it's none of my business"), although the circumstances of the story end up moving that subplot in a different direction.
Van Gulik does a good job with the period details, although his understanding of Chinese religion definitely feels like it's written through a Western lens.
At the monastery, Judge Dee finds a troupe of actors who have arrived to perform mystery plays, with an act that includes a live bear. But as it gets later into the night, Dee finds that nearly everyone is hiding secrets and hidden agendas.
This was a fun story, particularly for the interplay between the increasingly frustrated Dee and his loyal and roguish assistant Tao Gan.
I read Van Gulik's Judge Dee At Work as a child, and remember enjoying it then. This book was definitely not for children, as things escalated into a particularly nasty torture/bondage scene, not to mention various other deaths and dismemberments.
I liked Dee a lot. He is clearly brilliant, and becomes less and less patient with those around him and with his own failings to put the clues together as he battles the onset of a bad cold and sleep deprivation, plus a bit of addling from a blow to the head. By the end of the long night Dee has exactly zero fucks left to give, and the villain, when finally revealed, ends of paying the price.
In spite of some of the more gruesome bits, the story has a decent amount of humor, a bit of romance, and a healthy polyamorous relationship between Dee and his wives. Dee even gives his stamp of approval to a woman who admits having an interest in pursuing a lesbian relationship (essentially telling her "as long as it's between consenting adults, it's none of my business"), although the circumstances of the story end up moving that subplot in a different direction.
Van Gulik does a good job with the period details, although his understanding of Chinese religion definitely feels like it's written through a Western lens.
July 11, 2018
Có thể nói "Đạo quán có ma" là cuốn hài nhất trong sáu tập Địch Công kỳ án mà mình đã đọc. Trong truyện, Địch Công cùng Đào Cam mắc kẹt trong một đạo quán trên núi, giữa những đạo sĩ có lối sống khác người và một đoàn kịch tạp kỹ đầy những nhân vật khả nghi. Hầu như ông phải hành động một mình, không có ai đi theo hộ vệ, vừa hắt hơi sổ mũi vừa lê la khắp hang cùng ngõ hẻm của đạo quán để điều tra.
Nét hài hước của cuốn sách đến từ các nhân vật phụ và sự tương tác giữa họ. Một thi sĩ Tông Lê hay làm thơ trêu gái. Một tiểu thư Hồng Hoa lại chỉ thích “loser boy”, nhất quyết đòi đi tu vì thất tình. Một Tôn Minh Thiên sư với chế độ thực dưỡng mà Địch Công sợ phát khiếp. Lắm phen, Địch Công phải đóng vai anh Chánh Văn đi tư vấn chuyện tình cảm cho thiên hạ. Qua đây, Robert van Gulik cũng thể hiện một quan điểm rất thoáng về tình yêu đồng giới.
"Đạo quán có ma" đã xây dựng được một nhân vật phản diện thực sự cá tính, với lý tưởng lệch lạc riêng. Một kẻ chà đạp người khác để thỏa mãn dục vọng và cái tôi của bản thân, nhưng đủ khôn ngoan ngạo nghễ để lẩn trốn khỏi sự trừng phạt. Có thể nói đây là một đối thủ xứng tầm với Địch Công.
Nét hài hước của cuốn sách đến từ các nhân vật phụ và sự tương tác giữa họ. Một thi sĩ Tông Lê hay làm thơ trêu gái. Một tiểu thư Hồng Hoa lại chỉ thích “loser boy”, nhất quyết đòi đi tu vì thất tình. Một Tôn Minh Thiên sư với chế độ thực dưỡng mà Địch Công sợ phát khiếp. Lắm phen, Địch Công phải đóng vai anh Chánh Văn đi tư vấn chuyện tình cảm cho thiên hạ. Qua đây, Robert van Gulik cũng thể hiện một quan điểm rất thoáng về tình yêu đồng giới.
"Đạo quán có ma" đã xây dựng được một nhân vật phản diện thực sự cá tính, với lý tưởng lệch lạc riêng. Một kẻ chà đạp người khác để thỏa mãn dục vọng và cái tôi của bản thân, nhưng đủ khôn ngoan ngạo nghễ để lẩn trốn khỏi sự trừng phạt. Có thể nói đây là một đối thủ xứng tầm với Địch Công.
October 25, 2023
Re-read: October23-24, 2023, originally read in 2005 or 2006-ish. Downgraded from 4 stars to 3.
I read this in college for an Asian religious studies class (fun elective) and I enjoyed the story and the mystery at the time. This time around I went in with a grain of salt, this book and the series are about a Chinese judge in the Tang dynasty (600-900 ish ce) written by a Dutch diplomat in the 60’s. The inspiration was taken from the “Judge Dee” style crime mystery literature in 17th century China, so it’s almost like he wrote fanfiction for it. The mystery was still good, though I’d love to read more in this style by Chinese authors next.
I read this in college for an Asian religious studies class (fun elective) and I enjoyed the story and the mystery at the time. This time around I went in with a grain of salt, this book and the series are about a Chinese judge in the Tang dynasty (600-900 ish ce) written by a Dutch diplomat in the 60’s. The inspiration was taken from the “Judge Dee” style crime mystery literature in 17th century China, so it’s almost like he wrote fanfiction for it. The mystery was still good, though I’d love to read more in this style by Chinese authors next.
November 8, 2020
Vụ án ở đạo quán trên núi lần này không hề dễ dàng chút nào đối với Địch Công. Rõ ràng là trong quá trình truy tìm manh mối, ông đã ít nhiều đưa ra những phán đoán chưa thật chuẩn xác, nếu không nói là bị kẻ thủ ác dắt mũi. Đối thủ của ông quả là kẻ xứng tầm với những mưu ma chước quỷ làm ông không ít lần trầy da tróc vẩy mới vạch trần bộ mặt hắn trước ánh sáng công lý.
Phải thừa nhận rằng bên cạnh biệt tài phá án như thần thì vị huyện lệnh Địch Nhân Kiệt còn là một ông mai có hạng, biết bao cặp đôi nên duyên vợ chồng cũng là nhờ vào ông cả.
Phải thừa nhận rằng bên cạnh biệt tài phá án như thần thì vị huyện lệnh Địch Nhân Kiệt còn là một ông mai có hạng, biết bao cặp đôi nên duyên vợ chồng cũng là nhờ vào ông cả.
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