The Willow Garden Painting

★ Dutch sinologist Robert van Gulik retells the legend of Di Renjie, a renowned official of the early Tang dynasty. ★ Combines the refined charm of classical Chinese literature with the pleasures of Western detective fiction. ★ A complete, unabridged new translation. ★ Hand-drawn illustrations by Robert van Gulik. ★ A comprehensive look at the background behind the books. ★ The translator has studied Robert van Gulik for years and translated the series independently, ensuring a consistent style. 【About the Author】Robert van Gulik (1910–1967) was a Dutch diplomat and renowned sinologist. He served at Dutch embassies in Japan, China, India, Malaysia, and other countries, and was fluent in numerous European and Asian languages. He was a legendary figure in the history of cultural exchange between China and the West. He once described himself as holding three roles: diplomacy was his profession, sinology his lifelong vocation, and novel-writing his hobby. His representative works include The Way of the Pipa, Sexual Life in Ancient China, and Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period. His extensive Judge Dee detective series had a tremendous impact on readers in both East and West. 【Synopsis】The Judge Dee mysteries successfully created a Chinese Sherlock Holmes and were translated and published in many languages, leaving a major mark on the history of cultural exchange between China and the world. The translated edition of The Judge Dee Mysteries is planned to include fifteen volumes. Zhang Ling, who has studied Robert van Gulik for many years, is responsible for the translation, as well as scholarly yet accessible annotations and afterwords. It is the only version currently available on the market translated independently by a single person. The third set of The Judge Dee Mysteries includes The Red Pavilion, The Willow Pattern, The Haunted Monastery, The Necklace, and The Emperor's Pearl. Each volume includes illustrations by Robert van Gulik himself, rich in classical charm and a pleasure to behold. The Willow Pattern takes place in 677 CE, when Judge Dee serves as the capital's Minister of Justice. He is entrusted with an urgent mission and also appointed military governor of the metropolitan region. With Ma Rong, Qiao Tai, and Tao Gan at his side, he solves the case of a wealthy merchant who fell to his death, the murder of a nobleman, and a long-unsolved old case.