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There is seldom a better window into the life and ways of a time and place than through the study of their stories. These tales, whether written or maintained through oral tradition, are a vehicle through which the historian can travel to knowledge and understanding of a culture and a peoples unbeknownst to him in direct experience. Robert Van Gulik’s The Chinese Bell Murders is just this type of story. Although written by a man of Dutch birth, the book captures the essence of the Ming mystery story, common to 16th century Chinese literature. Van Gulik spent most of his career in the far East, and thus became intrigued with the historic Judge Dee, a famous scholar-magistrate. Through Judge Dee and his escapades, Van Gulik not only demonstrates the Ming mystery model, but also provides valuable insights into aspects of Chinese culture and tradition, such as the role of the magistrate and the court, the position of women and the status of various religions and social classes in China. Characteristic of Ming mystery stories, the role of the detective in The Chinese Bell Murders is played by the magistrate. The magistrate is often involved in simultaneously solving three or more unrelated cases. Thus, the structuring of the nov