pickA fascinating glimpse into life in 7th century CE China, translated in the 1940s from a 19th century Chinese manuscript that appears to preserve a genuine account of investigations undertaken by the magistrate of a small city.
Judge Dee is insightful, ethically scrupulous and morally strict, slightly softened by compassion. However, in the context of his culture, the use of torture, graphically described, is a legitimate judicial tool. I found ⬇️
In today‘s episode of “Always Behind on #NetGalley ARCs”…
This looks like it will be interesting and heartbreaking!
Starting this today. I love the cover.
“They say that reading will attract the spirit of sleep. Let me read a while, perhaps this book will help me pass the time, or else bore me to such an extent that I shall fall asleep.”
"In the end, as a general rule, no criminal escapes the laws of the land."
If only this were true!
Judge Dee has a number of legal recourses not available to the modern judiciary. Were he presiding over the trial of D. Trump, that fellow would certainly have had 100 stokes of the heavy bamboo for lack of respect, and probably the thumb screws for lying!
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
Is one book a #BookHaul ? ?
I've been really enjoying the Netflix series "Judge Dee's Mystery" and decided to get the source material.
Judge Dee was a Tang Dynasty magistrate, three of whose historical cases are translated here, the success of which led van Gulik to write his own stories in a continuing series.
In his introduction, van Gulik comments on the centuries old Chinese tradition of detective novels, considerably predating ⬇️
pickI enjoyed this book, in particular, because I am interested in Far East culture and mythology!
so-soGood background on the most evil regime in world history.
..As he gained this terrible sense of his own sin he felt that he could no longer sit in front of god, he had to kneel..It was a near impossible sight of a Triad boss on his knees; In Chinese culture it is the most servile of positions&a gang leader lowered himself to no one!
Once you are a Triad ,your a Triad for life,even Hong Kong law courts accept that triad membership was binding forever.”I give up my right to those who want to follow Jesus”
The current Netflix series excludes torture, but includes a few fight scenes, which I had thought was pandering to the modern vogue for adding martial arts to spice up the action, and was pleasantly surprised to read a few examples of Judge Dee's lieutenants exhibiting their "Chinese boxing and wrestling".
⬇️ 2d