Chinese Cases

Weekly serialized novels dramatizing Chinese legal history, investigators, and court verdicts.

1. Cao Cao Cuts His Hair in Place of His Head

2. Jurisdiction: China (Late Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao's territory) (Approximately 197-200 AD)
3. Original Case: 曹操割发代首案
4. VictimsUnnamed wheat farmerDefendantsCao CaoProsecutorsGuo PuJudgesCao CaoInstitutionsCao Cao's Military Command
5. Case Tags: Military Law;Substitution of Punishment;Self-Judgment;Symbolic Punishment

1. Case of Man Chong Interrogating Yang Biao

2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Han Dynasty) (197 AD)
3. Original Case: 满宠考讯杨彪案
4. VictimsYang BiaoPlaintiffsCao CaoInvestigatorsMan ChongDefense AttorneysKong RongXun YuJudgesMan ChongInstitutionsOffice of the Prefect of Xu
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Ancient Chinese Law;Three Kingdoms History;Judicial Torture

1. The Case of Man Chong Punishing Cao Hong's Retainer

2. Jurisdiction: China (Cao Wei State) (Approximately 196-200 AD)
3. Original Case: 满宠收治曹洪宾客案
4. InvestigatorsMan ChongProsecutorsMan ChongJudgesMan ChongCao CaoInstitutionsXuchang County OfficeCao Wei Imperial Court
5. Case Tags: Strict Law Enforcement;Judicial Independence;Noble Interference in Justice;Cao Wei Legal System

1. The Case of Yang Pei Executing Cao Hong's Retainer for Tax Resistance

2. Jurisdiction: Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms China) (c. 200 (Jian'an era, 196–220))
3. Original Case: Yang Pei Zhu Sha Cao Hong Bin Ke Kang Shui An
4. DefendantsYang PeiPlaintiffsCao HongJudgesCao CaoInstitutionsChangshe CountyCao Cao's Government
5. Case Tags: Tax Evasion;Extrajudicial Execution;Aristocratic Privilege;Cao Cao's Legalism

1. The Case of Huang Fu Executing Xu Xuan

2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Han Dynasty) (c. 165 AD)
3. Original Case: 黄浮诛徐宣案
4. DefendantsXu XuanPlaintiffsLi GaoInvestigatorsHuang FuProsecutorsHuang FuJudgesHuang FuInstitutionsDonghai Commandery
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Capital Punishment;Judicial Integrity;Han Dynasty Law

1. Case of Yang Qiu Executing Wang Fu

2. Jurisdiction: 东汉（中国） (光和二年（179年）)
3. Original Case: 阳球诛王甫案
4. Victims王甫Defendants王甫Plaintiffs阳球Investigators阳球Prosecutors阳球Judges阳球Institutions司隶校尉府
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Judicial Torture;Ancient Chinese Law;Imperial Court Case

1. Case of Han Lang Defending the Innocent and the Rehabilitation of the Chu Prison

2. Jurisdiction: Eastern Han Dynasty (China) (70 CE)
3. Original Case: 寒朗辩冤与楚狱平反案
4. VictimsYan ZhongWang PingDefendantsLiu YingPlaintiffsEmperor Ming of HanInvestigatorsHan LangProsecutorsTingweiDefense AttorneysHan LangJudgesEmperor Ming of HanHan LangInstitutionsTingwei (Commandant of Justice)
5. Case Tags: Political Crime;Judicial Injustice;Historical Case;Wrongful Conviction

1. The Rebellion Case of Liu Ying, Prince of Chu

2. Jurisdiction: Eastern Han Dynasty (China) (70 AD (13th Year of Yongping))
3. Original Case: 楚王刘英谋反案
4. VictimsEmperor Ming of HanDefendantsLiu YingWang PingYan ZhongPlaintiffsYan GuangInvestigatorsHan LangYuan AnProsecutorsImperial CensorsJudgesEmperor Ming of HanInstitutionsHan Imperial CourtTingwei (Ministry of Justice)
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Mass Punishment;Religious Persecution;Historical Injustice Case

1. Ma Yuan's Unjust Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (49 AD)
3. Original Case: 马援蒙冤案
4. VictimsMa YuanDefendantsGeng ShuLiang SongPlaintiffsGeng ShuLiang SongInvestigatorsLiu XiuProsecutorsLiang SongJudgesEmperor Guangwu of HanInstitutionsEastern Han Imperial Court
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Confiscation of Fief;Defamation of a Deceased General;Eastern Han Dynasty Case

1. Ouyang She Bribery Case

2. Jurisdiction: Eastern Han Dynasty, China (39 AD)
3. Original Case: Ouyang She shouhui an
4. DefendantsOuyang SheJudgesLiu XiuInstitutionsEastern Han Imperial CourtTingwei
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Land Survey Campaign;Confucianism;Death in Custody

1. The Case of Dong Xuan Executing Gongsun Dan and His Son

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (c. 43 AD (During the Jianwu Era of Emperor Guangwu))
3. Original Case: 董宣诛公孙丹父子案
4. VictimsGongsun DanSon of Gongsun DanDefendantsDong XuanPlaintiffsRelatives of Gongsun DanInvestigatorsDong XuanProsecutorsRelatives of Gongsun DanJudgesEmperor Guangwu of HanInstitutionsLuoyang County Government
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Ancient Chinese Law;Capital Punishment;Judicial Independence

1. Dong Xuan Kills the Slave of Princess Huyang

2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Han Dynasty) (Around 43 AD)
3. Original Case: 董宣杀湖阳公主家奴案
4. VictimsUnnamed slave of Princess HuyangDefendantsDong XuanPlaintiffsPrincess HuyangJudgesEmperor Guangwu of HanInstitutionsLuoyang County Government
5. Case Tags: Judicial Independence in Ancient China;Capital Offense by Slave;Conflict Between Law and Royal Prerogative;Martyrdom and Integrity in Office

1. The Case of Li Jian and Jing Zhang's Land Dispute

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Han Dynasty)
3. Original Case: 李建与精张诤田案
4. DefendantsJing ZhangPlaintiffsLi JianJudgesLocal Han Dynasty MagistrateInstitutionsHan Dynasty County Tribunal
5. Case Tags: Land Dispute;Han Dynasty Law;Property Rights;Ancient Civil Litigation

1. Case of the Adulterous Woman of Qi: Nai Punishment and Caning by Qin Gonggu

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty, Qi region, present-day Shandong) (Han Dynasty, circa 2nd century BC)
3. Original Case: 女子齐通耐责秦恭鼓案
4. VictimsUnnamed HusbandDefendantsWoman from QiPlaintiffsUnnamed HusbandInvestigatorsQin GongguJudgesQin GongguInstitutionsQi Commandery Office
5. Case Tags: Adultery;Corporal Punishment;Han Dynasty Law;Women's Legal Status

1. Case of Hou Yong Causing the Death of Jue Ba

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE))
3. Original Case: 候永致放駃罢死案
4. VictimsJue BaDefendantsHou Yong
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Han Dynasty Law;Criminal Liability;Historical Chinese Case

1. 隧长焦永死驹劾状案

2. Jurisdiction: 汉代中国（居延地区，今内蒙古额济纳旗） (建武三年十二月辛未（公元27年12月19日）)
3. Original Case: 隧长焦永死驹劾状
4. Defendants焦永Plaintiffs甲渠候官Investigators宫Prosecutors甲渠候官Judges居延都尉府Institutions甲渠候官居延都尉府都乡
5. Case Tags: 官马驹死亡案;劾状制度;过失损毁官物;居延汉简法律

1. 候粟君责寇恩钱案

2. Jurisdiction: 汉代中国，居延地区（今甘肃北部至内蒙古额济纳旗一带） (汉代（约公元前1世纪至公元1世纪）)
3. Original Case: 候粟君所责寇恩事
4. Defendants寇恩Plaintiffs候粟君Institutions居延县廷
5. Status or Result: 居延县廷经审理后认定寇恩不欠候粟君钱财，驳回候粟君的诉讼请求。
6. Case Tags: 债务纠纷;汉代司法;居延汉简;证据裁判

1. 严延年案

2. Jurisdiction: 中国（汉代） (西汉神爵四年（公元前58年）)
3. Defendants严延年Plaintiffs义Judges汉宣帝 刘询Institutions廷尉府
4. Status or Result: 被判定“大逆不道”之罪，在闹市执行死刑并暴尸街头（弃市）。
5. Case Tags: 汉代酷吏;大逆不道;屠伯;中国法律史

1. Case of Yi Zong

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (117 BC)
3. Original Case: 义纵案
4. Key Figures: Yi Zong (义纵), Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝)
5. Case Tags: Historical Case;Political Crime;Capital Offense;Abuse of Power

1. Case of Wang Wenshu

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (104 BC)
3. Original Case: 王温舒案
4. Key Figures: Wang Wenshu (王温舒), Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝)
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Corruption;Collective Punishment;Han Dynasty Cruel Officials