A Study on the Space Images of “The Chinese Gold Murders”

Abstract

As one of the works in A Judge Dee Mystery written by Robert Van Gulik, The Chinese Gold Murders contains many space images with multi-cultural elements to be researched. In Chinese Professor Cao Shunqing’s theory, Imagology of Comparative Literature in The Variation of Comparative Literature, Ideology and Utopia are two cross-cultural literary concepts that can be used to illustrate them. So, combining the texts and the theory, it is obvious to see changes and constants in space images. They both reflect the relationship between Chinese original space images and the method of how the author and his domestic literary culture handle them. The reason why they happen is misreading, which originates from the differences between Eastern and Western literary traditions. However, Utopia in this work does show some new inspirations compared to Cao’s elucidation, which can be seen as a supplement. Ideology and Utopia can serve as the basis and reminder for further advancement of Imagology of Comparative Literature.