Judge Dee Quotes Analysis

Legalism was based off a fixed system of laws that defined a specific fixed penalty for each certain offense. Legalism had no bias or changing of the penalties, no matter what class or circumstances, there wasn’t even an exception for the ruler who was considered to be above the law. While working a case judges had to find out what the crime was and then the punishment was given immediately, since penalties were fixed.
On page 59, when Judge Dee begins to suspect Mrs. Djou of killing her husband due to having an affair with another man, he tells her that a woman killing her husband is one of the most terrible crimes to be committed. With that stated, it shows that a specific crime, in this case Mrs. Djou killing her husband, is bad and will most definitely have a hard set consequence, which would be one example of legalism used within the book. After the guilty have been proven to have committed the crime their punishments are announced (page 214). Judge Dee yells at Hsu Deh-tai (Djou’s lover) trying to get him to confess, and out that there everyone is equal no …show more content…
To ease his mind he fasts and prepares himself to start meditating (page 79). In the book it seems like the Judge never actually was able to concentrate and get into the calm state, but after reading on it is easy to see that in fact he was able to do it. While in the state he sees the answers to some of his problems, not necessarily does he understand them at the moment but he will later once the pieces begin to fall into place (pages 80-84). When Judge Dee meditates it is bringing him closer to himself and nature, which is a part of Daoism. Once he does this it will, in part, help him solve his cases, making him happy and at peace, saving him from those feelings of not being good enough and sorrow for the confusion of the