The Haunted Monastery
First edition | |
Author | Robert van Gulik |
---|---|
Series | Judge Dee |
Genre | Gong'an fiction, Mystery, Detective novel, Crime |
Publisher | Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur |
Publication date | 1961 |
Media type | |
Preceded by | The Chinese Nail Murders |
Followed by | The Red Pavilion |
The Haunted Monastery 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 (Di Renjie), a magistrate and statesman of the Tang court, who lived roughly 630–700.
The book contains eight illustrations by the author as well as a diagram of the Monastery where the action takes place.
Plot introduction
Judge Dee and his three wives are on their way back from a visit to family in the capital accompanied by the Judge's aide Tao Gan when a terrible storm and a broken axle force the party to take shelter for the night in an isolated Taoist monastery of sinister repute. The wives go directly to bed but the Judge is required to pay a courtesy visit to the Abbot. Judge Dee is a Confucian and has a poor opinion of Taoism which, like Buddhism, encourages adherents to enter monastic life. He, however, diplomatically keeps his opinion to himself as he endures the feast and mystery play. Thus begins an endless night of murder, mayhem and madness as the Judge, suffering from the beginnings of a head cold, solves the mysterious deaths, punishes the guilty and brings two star-crossed young couples together.
Literary significance and criticism
"Some interesting sidelights on Confucian and Taoist beliefs emerge from this tale of corruption and murder in a monastery, where Judge Dee runs into considerable danger but ends up administering justice in a primitive way. Perhaps because it is short and somewhat huddled, this work does not remain in the memory as one of his best".[1]
Publication
Van Gulik found his London publisher Michael Joseph unwilling to publish more than one title a year so he decided to publish The Haunted Monastery privately by the Art Printing Works in Kuala Lumpur in 1961. The Red Pavilion was also similarly printed that year, The Lacquer Screen followed in 1962). All three were produced in paperback form with a print run of 2,000 copies. The Haunted Monastery was finally published in the UK by Heinemann in 1963.[2]
Television adaptation
In 1974 the novel The Haunted Monastery was produced as a TV movie for the ABC network by Gerald Isenberg with the title Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders.[3] It was filmed with Khigh Dhiegh as Dee and an all-Asian cast (including Mako, Keye Luke, Soon-Tek Oh, Irene Tsu and James Hong). Writing was credited to Nicholas Meyer and Robert van Gulik. It was nominated for an Edgar Award, for Best Television Feature or Miniseries in 1975.
References
- v
- t
- e
- Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee
- The Chinese Maze Murders
- The Chinese Bell Murders
- The Chinese Gold Murders
- The Chinese Lake Murders
- The Chinese Nail Murders
- The Haunted Monastery
- The Red Pavilion
- The Lacquer Screen
- The Emperor's Pearl
- The Willow Pattern
- Murder in Canton
- The Phantom of the Temple
- Judge Dee at Work
- Necklace and Calabash
- Poets and Murder
- Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)
- Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013)
- Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018)
- Amazing Detective Di Renjie (2004)
- Amazing Detective Di Renjie 2 (2006)
- Amazing Detective Di Renjie 3 (2008)
- Mad Detective Di Renjie (2010)
- Young Sherlock (2014)
- Judge Dee's Mystery (2024)