Product Description
The great Song Dynasty poet and artist, Mi Fu ), wrote treatises on painting and calligraphy, i in addition to the present work on inkstones, translated here by the eminent Dutch diplomat and sinologist, Dr. Robert H. Van Gulik. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

No guilt
The ancient Chinese believed that human sexuality was analogous to 'cosmic' procreation. They saw absolutely no difference between rain wetting a field and semen fertilizing the womb of a woman, or between a damp soil ready for sowing seed and a moist vagina ready for penetration.
Their sexuality was never tainted by morality (guilt) and could never be a sin.

The ancient Chinese palette went from the most detailed biological pictures of copulation to the most spiritual experiences of love.

However, there were important differences between confucianism, taoism and tantrism.
The most conformist way of life was confucianism, which believed in biological immortality through offspring. Marriage was an important institution, but not an occasion for rejoicing. Music was prohibited for three days, because it was considered as a signal for the father that his son would soon take his place!
Taoists believed in physical immortality and tried to prolong life through different techniques: respiration (mastering the uterine respiration of the embryo), diets, gymnastics or heliotherapy imposing a harsh body regimen for its adepts.
A taoist 'alchemist' sect considered the woman's womb as a kind of chemist's cup capable of fabricating 'Life's Elixir' through copulation.
Certain sects organized mass copulations trying to put their followers in a mystical delirium and making them believe that they were invulnerable and invincible in combat. Powerful men used them in this sense for political goals.

Tantrism was a more difficult practice. Sexual intercourse had to take place when a woman was most fertile, but the man had to withhold ejaculation (coitus reservatus) in order to capture the yin of the woman and heighten his own vital powers.

Robert van Gulik (author of excellent 'Chinese' detective novels) treats this particularly difficult theme masterly.
He wrote a most stimulating book, not only for Chinese scholars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From the intro
From the publisher,
"In Judge Dee's day, the literary world of Ancient China was one where intense study and almost ritualized scholarship were the rule, with academics and students alike dedicated to the highest concepts of beauty and art.But inwardly less exalted passions could erupt --to the point of murder.During a Mid-autumn Festival in Chin-hwa, Judge Dee is the fellow-guest ofa small group of distinguished literati.Alas, he has little time for the criticism of couplets or calligraphy.A student has been murdered; a beautiful poetess is accused of whipping her maidservant to death;and further mysteries seem to lie in the eerie shadows of the Shrine of the Black Fox."
Another highly enjoyable Judge Dee mystery. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

My favorite Judge Dee mystery
When Judge Dee, on horseback, tired and soaked through, arrives at Riverton one rainy evening, he has to rub his eyes, for he believes for a moment that he has run into his double. But no, he is only looking at a harmless old hermit, riding a donkey. Blame it on the dusk.

What else does a mystery lover need? A beautiful princess in distress, the Emperor's guilty secret, youthful love, court intrigue, mobsters, gruesome murders, and water, water everywhere: the rain, the river, the canals that run through the summer palace, the malodorous moats that surround it.

And what about the hermit? Oh, he was the mystery, and the solution to the mystery. He was no one really...

One of the best in the series
Necklace and Calabash has long been one of my favorites in the Judge Dee series. The judge finds himself alone, without his usual assistants, and facing several baffling problems, all of which are solved with his usual insight and aplomb. The characters are beautifully drawn, particularly the mysterious Taoist "Master Gourd" and the princess. It is well written and very much worth your while.

Tao and Palace Intrigues
"Necklace and Calabash" initiates the third Judge Dee series, which Heinemann Publishers dubbed as "More Judge Dee Mysteries".This third and last series was conceived at the beginning of 1966 in Tokyoso that van Gulik would explore more directly the character of Judge Dee,who would solve cases without the help of his assistants."Necklaceand Calabash" proved to be the penultimate Judge Dee Mystery.

As vanGulik notes in the book's postscript, the calabash or bottle gourd hasplayed an important role in Chinese philosophy and art.In "Necklaceand Calabash" Judge Dee, the quintessential Confucianist, meets aTaoist monk who emphasizes to him the importance of emptiness - as in theemptiness of a calabash.With the pressure mounting on a timely solutionto the theft of a princess's pearl necklace, Judge Dee empties himself anddiscovers the key to the mystery.

Once the puzzles are solved, Judge Deesprings into action.In his temporary exalted position as ImperialInquisitor, he conducts himself with equanimity, even when dealing with thehighest officials of the Water Palace; incorruptible, he dispatches thecases fearlessly and unmoved by temptations of wealth or status.

Not For Me
I found this book rather dull perhaps because I generally dislike"period" mysteries. A few clever paragraphs to be sure, but inbetween these were alot of somewhat stereotypical characterizations andforgettable dialogue. Those who enjoy period pieces and all theirassumptions and artificiality may like this novel but I did not. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Robert Hans van Gulik, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1875 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Product Description
Authentic 18th-century Chinese detective novel; Dee and associates solve three interlocked cases: The Case of the Double Murder at Dawn, The Case of the Strange Corpse, and The Case of the Poisoned Bridge.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A surprisingly good page-turner!
Being a bit of a sinophile myself, I bought this book during a trip to Taiwan a while back and then stowed it with the other books I brought back. It sat pretty much ignored until recently I needed something to read and noticed it sitting there.

Wow! I didn't expect much, and I'm not a big mystery fan, but once I started reading this book I couldn't stop! The way the three mysteries are woven together really keeps the story moving, and almost every short chapter ends on a near-cliffhanger that keeps you going forward. It also painted a picture of life in China during that period that was clear, and gives a good (if subtle) look at the harsh justice system of the time.

I loved it so much that when I finished it, I immediately ordered the next three Judge Dee novels!

Definitely check it out- you won't regret it!

Interesting
I found it very interestingespecially comparing the US form of justice and laws to China under its Emperors.I would recommend it if you like law stories from different times, countries and perspectives

Charming and Horrific
Last night I finished The Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee. It was cleverly written and the ending was quite horrific. I really enjoyed the literal translation from the Chinese, which gave it a very authentic feel.

Essential history
This is the great historic base for all of the Judge Dee later novels by van Gulik.Here the translator(van Gulik) gives the grim reality of the tortures used in ancient China.He refers to these in his later novels but leaves out the details in consideration of Western sensibilities. When reading the novels it is far more interesting to understand why so many characters are terrified of going to the tribunal. Any follower of Judge Dee needs this book.

Great!
For the lover of detective stories with an eastern flare.Very enjoyable, light reading. ... Read more