Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary and concept flashcards based on the characters, plot points, and philosophical themes of the Judge Dee mystery novel.

Judge Dee

The appointed magistrate of Chang-ping, a town district in Province of Shantung.

Hoong Liang

Sergeant over the constables of the tribunal of Chang-ping and Judge Dee’s trusted advisor.

Ma Joong

First Lieutenant of Judge Dee and one of the "brothers of the green woods."

Pang Deh

Warden of Six Mile Village, where the murders were committed; known as Warden Pang.

Hua Wen Djun

A candidate of literature, son of Mr. Hua, and groom of the unfortunate bride.

Shao

Traveling Silk Merchant from Kiangsu Province and the murderer of Liu and Wang.

Candidate Wang

The innocent suspect in a murder case involving a girl named Pure Jade, with whom he had a secret affair.

Bee Hsun

A murder victim who was killed by his wife, Mrs. Djou.

Ho

The warden of Huang-Hua village, where Bee Hsun was murdered.

Hoo

A candidate of literature and classmate of Wen-Djun; also the mother of Candidate Hoo.

Hua Chen

Old maid servant in the Hua mansion.

Ms. Lee

The late bride of Mr. Hua and a victim in the case.

Divination Slips

Randomized fortune telling paper strips commonly found at temples and shrines in East Asian tradition.

Dr. Tang

Doctor of literature (Tang Deh-Djung) and the teacher of Hsu.

Hsiang

Former prefect living retired in Chang-ping, also known as Mr. Hua.

Mrs. Djou (Mrs. Bee)

The widow of Bee Hsun and his murderer; she killed him with a nail.

Hsu

A student of Dr. Tang who had an affair with Mrs. Djou and was flogged to death.

Old Mrs. Bee

The mother of the late victim, Bee Hsun.

The Great Torture

A severe, state sanctioned method of interrogation used to extract confessions from uncooperative suspects.

Koong Wan-Deh

Owner of the hostel in Six Mile village where the two victims stayed.

Flogging

An early mechanical punishment consisting of whipping.

Screwing

A heavy duty industrial tool or early mechanical punishment used for crushing the hands.

Magistrate

The highest local administrative and judicial authority of the county, known as the "father and mother of the people."

Brothers of the Green Woods

A term for reformed criminals such as Ma Joong and Chiao tai who served under Judge Dee.

Legalism

A philosophy in the narrative that uses severe punishments for all involved in a crime, prioritizing the greater good over ethics.

Confucianism

A philosophy reflected in Judge Dee's desire to restore cosmic harmony.

Daoism

A philosophy represented by the constant presence of supernatural elements in the story.

Mandate of Heaven

Divine guidance for righteous judges, symbolized in the novel by Judge Dee’s dreams.

Netherworld Court

A vision used to force Mrs. Bee to confess, symbolizing the inevitability of spiritual judgement and divine retribution.

The Interlude

A dramatic pause in the novel that symbolizes a mirror to reality.