TìAng-Yin-Pi-Shih = Parallel Cases from Under the Pear-Tree: A 13th Century Manual of Jurisprudence and Detection

by Wanrong Gui

English (translation)Original Chinese

Genres: China, History

198 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1979

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and others like it were used to train bureaucrats on how to investigate and try cases. Van Gulik is the author of the Judge Dee mysteries, the first of which is Celebrated Cases Of Judge Dee, here's the basis for many of the stories. The text is in English, traditional Chinese characters and Wade-Giles pronunciation. It's some interesting stuff, including one case that smacks of Solomon and some trivial cases that are a bit silly. Both the Japanese and Koreans had access to these as well. Well worth a look for mystery writers and others interested in Chinese culture.