The Chinese LakeMurders

Robert Van Gulik The Chinese LakeMurders

A Chinese detective story suggested by original ancient Chinese plots

With twelve plates drawn by the author in Chinese style

PREFACE

The Chinese Lake Murders describes how Judge Dee solved three difficult cases in a.d. 666, shortly after he had been appointed magistrate of Han-yuan.

Han-yuan was a small old town, only sixty miles northwest of the imperial capital; but hidden among high mountains, it had always remained an isolated place and few people from outside had settled there. It lay on the shore of a mountain lake, the mysterious lake of Han-yuan, about which since olden times people told strange stories. The bodies of persons drowned there were never found, but their ghosts were said to have been seen walking among the living. At the same time, however, the lake was famous for its 'flower boats,' floating houses of assignation where the guests could feast with beautiful courtesans and stay overnight on the water.

In this strange old town Judge Dee is confronted with a cruel murder. Just when his investigation of that crime is getting under way, he is faced with two new baffling puzzles, and soon he finds himself in a maze of political intrigue, sordid greed and dark, forbidden passion.

At the beginning of this volume the reader will find a view of Han-yuan, and at the end a picture of the flower boat. The latter plate, and also the plan of that boat reproduced on page 35, were kindly drawn for me by my friend Hilary Waddington, former Superintendent of Monuments of the Archaeological Service, New Delhi, India.

The Postscript gives a brief description of the ancient Chinese judicial system, a few remarks about special subjects occurring in the present novel, and references to Chinese sources.

Robert van Gulik

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

It should be noted that in Chinese the surname-here printed in capitals-precedes the personal name.

Main characters

DEE Jen-djieh, Magistrate of Han-yuan, a small mountain district sixty miles west of the capital. Referred to as 'Judge Dee,' or 'the judge.'

HOONG Liang, Judge Dee's trusted adviser and sergeant of the tribunal. Referred to as 'Sergeant Hoong,' or 'the sergeant.'

MA Joong, first lieutenant of Judge Dee.

CHIAO Tai, second lieutenant of Judge Dee.

TAO Gan, third lieutenant of Judge Dee, enters in Chapter Twelve.

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Drowned Courtesan'

HAN Yung-han, wealthy landowner, leading citizen of Han-yuan.

Willow Down, his daughter.

* Almond Blossom

* Anemone

* Peach Blossom

(* courtesans of the Willow Quarter in Han-yuan.)

WANG, master of the Goldsmiths' Guild.

PENG, master of the Silversmiths' Guild.

SOO, master of the Jadeworkers' Guild.

KANG Po, a wealthy silk merchant. KANG Choong, his younger brother.

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Vanished Bride'

DJANG Wen-djang, a Doctor of Literature.

DJANG Hoo-piao, his son, a Candidate of Literature.

LIU Fei-po, a wealthy merchant from the capital.

Moon Fairy, his daughter.

KOONG, a tea merchant, neighbor of Dr. Djang.

MAO Yuan, a carpenter.

MAO Loo, his cousin.

Persons connected with 'The Case of the Spendthrift Councilor'

LIANG Meng-kwang, Imperial Councilor, living retired in Han-yuan.

LIANG Fen, his nephew who acts as his secretary.

WAN I-fan, a promoter.

Others

MENG Kee, Grand Inquisitor.

First Chapter

AN AILING OFFICIAL COMPLETES A WEIRD RECORD; JUDGE DEE ATTENDS A BANQUET ON A FLOWER BOAT

Only Heaven that wrote the scroll of human life
Knows where its beginning is, and where its end-
If end there be. We mortals can not read its writ,
We even ow not whether the text runs down or up.