8.2 /10 1 Votes
Series Judge Dee Pages 183 pp LC Class PR9130.9.G8 W55 1993 Followed by The Phantom of the Temple | 4.1/5 Goodreads Media type Print Dewey Decimal 823/.914 20 Originally published 1965 Preceded by The Monkey and the Tiger OCLC 310157995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genres Gong'an fiction, Mystery, Detective fiction, Chinese crime fiction Similar Robert van Gulik books, Judge Dee mystery books, Gong'an fiction books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Willow Pattern is a gong'an detective novel written by Robert van Gulik and set in Imperial China (roughly speaking the Tang Dynasty). It is a fiction based on the real character of Judge Dee (Ti Jen-chieh or Di Renjie), a magistrate and statesman of the Tang court, who lived roughly 630–700.
Contents
As the author says in a postscript, the use of the Willow Pattern as a motif in the book was a conscious anachronism. The book features 15 illustrations by the author.
Plot introduction
Judge Dee is now a senior member of the Chinese government and has been appointed the Chief Judge in the Tang capital of Chang-An. One of the city's oldest, and most important aristocratic families becomes the subject of investigation. Three murders are committed and Judge Dee must find the connection.
Literary significance and criticism
"The opening scene carries out the in medias res advice: a beautiful young girl in dishabille is arranging an old man's corpse to look like accidental death. The next brings on Judge Dee, in his usual philosophizing mood and flanked by the faithful Chiao Tai as they discuss the plague-stricken, half-deserted city. In the heat of summer, Dee has to discover the motive and agent of three murders, each separate but also related. Typically good Van Gulik."