Book on China’s first crime scene investigator promoted at BIBF

In 1981, a Chinese work of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) was translated into English and published in the US. The Washing away of Wrongs: Forensic Medicine in Thirteenth-Century China is widely regarded as presenting the first treatise on forensic medicine in the world.

Song Ci, well-known as the “father of forensic medicine”, is believed to have originated forensic crime scene investigation in 1235.

An English version of his life story -- Final Witness, The Story of Song Ci -- was recently published by the ACA Publishing Ltd.

The author of the book in Chinese, Wang Hongjia, attended a grand promotion of the book at the Beijing International Book Fair on Aug 25. Its English translator, James Trapp, expressed his best wishes via a video message.

“I didn’t know much about the work, but I was deeply attracted the moment I opened it,” said Wang Feng, deputy-director of the office responsible for the China Book International initiative.

She said readers all over the world can learn more about China and its culture and people through such books.

Trapp, who worked at the British Museum, is an expert on Chinese culture. He said his family members were deeply attracted by the book and read through the manuscript before it was published.

“Forensic medicine was relatively advanced in Song Ci’s times. Actually, he himself was a real model of investigators,” said Wang Hongjia.

“The illustrations in the book are also full of life,” Wang added. “They are from Dai Dunbang, the character designer of Water Margin.” Water Margin is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature.