The Lacquer Screen

The Lacquer Screen is a historical mystery novel set in 7th century Tang Dynasty China, featuring the detective-magistrate Judge Dee. The story takes place in 663 CE when Judge Dee visits a fellow magistrate in the town of Wei-ping and encounters a strange phenomenon involving a decorative screen that appears to change its image. During his visit, Judge Dee becomes entangled in a complex case involving possible murder, a gang of robbers, and supernatural elements. To solve the mysteries, he and his trusted servant Chiao Tai must go undercover and infiltrate the criminal underworld of Wei-ping. The book includes fourteen original illustrations by the author Robert van Gulik, who based his fictional Judge Dee on a real historical figure - the Tang Dynasty statesman Di Renjie. The novel is part of van Gulik's larger Judge Dee series and shares narrative elements with traditional Chinese detective fiction. The Lacquer Screen explores themes of appearance versus reality, the intersection of the supernatural with the rational, and the complex relationship between law and justice in ancient Chinese society.

Readers appreciate the detailed portrayal of ancient Chinese culture and legal systems in The Lacquer Screen, with several noting they learned about Ming Dynasty customs through van Gulik's research. The mystery plot keeps readers engaged, though some find it less complex than other Judge Dee novels. Readers liked: - Historical accuracy and cultural details - Judge Dee's methodical investigation style - The ghost story elements Readers disliked: - Slower pacing compared to other books in the series - Less character development - Some found the resolution predictable Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (526 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) "The supernatural elements add an interesting twist while staying true to Chinese literary traditions," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Multiple Amazon reviews mention the book works well as a standalone story, though one critic felt it "lacks the depth of character relationships found in other Judge Dee mysteries."

The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert van Gulik A murder mystery set in ancient China features Judge Dee investigating interconnected crimes through the winding streets of Lan-fang.

The Red Pavilion by Robert van Gulik Judge Dee solves crimes in Paradise Island's pleasure quarter during the Tang Dynasty, mixing history with detection.

The Willow Pattern by Joan Smith A female detective in 18th century China untangles murders connected to imperial politics and forbidden romance.

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart Master Li and Number Ten Ox investigate mysteries in an ancient China where folklore and detective work intersect.

The Ghost Marriage by Peter May A modern-day detective in Beijing confronts a murder case tied to ancient Chinese marriage customs and traditions.

🏮 Judge Dee was based on a real historical figure, Di Renjie, who served as a magistrate and statesman during the Tang Dynasty and later became a popular character in Chinese literature 🎨 Van Gulik was not just an author but also a Dutch diplomat and Oriental scholar who spoke multiple languages including Chinese and Japanese, and created his own woodblock illustrations for his books 📜 The traditional Chinese detective story format that inspired this series typically revealed the criminal's identity at the beginning, focusing instead on how the crime was solved - but van Gulik adapted this to appeal to Western readers 🖼️ Lacquer screens were highly valuable art objects in ancient China, often used by the wealthy as room dividers and status symbols, with some taking artisans years to complete ⚖️ During the Tang Dynasty, local magistrates like Judge Dee served as detective, prosecutor, and judge all in one, handling both criminal and civil cases in their districts