Judge Dee is the main character of the novel. He is the magistrate of Chang-ping, which in Chinese culture means that he is the person who investigates crimes, apprehends and questions suspects, and serves as judge. He also has the power to open new cases if he finds suspicious information, as in the case of Bee Hsun’s murder.

Despite the central role Judge Dee plays in the novel, there is practically no information about his personal life. It is safe to assume that he has a wife, children, and concubines, as befitting someone of his station; otherwise the narrator probably would have noted an unusual circumstance in his family situation. Toward the end of the novel, it also becomes clear that the judge comes from a family of statement that is well known for their honesty and high moral character. His father was a prefect, and his grandfather was a minister.

While there is little information about the judge’s personal life, his conduct during his investigations reveals that he is an honest, conscientious, and wise man who is not without empathy. He treats the victims of crimes kindly, as in the case of the carter’s widow, Mrs. Wong, and the dumb girl.