Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Pi Si Unjustly Sentenced to Chengdan

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (c. 200 BCE (Early Western Han Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 辟死不当为城旦案
4. Key Figures: Pi Si (辟死, the convict), Jiangling County Magistrate, Commandant of Justice (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Conviction;Criminal Appeal (Qiju);Han Dynasty Legal System;Forced Labor Penalty (Chengdan)

1. Case of Jing et al. Intentionally Releasing Offenders and Failing to Punish

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qin Dynasty, collected in Han Dynasty legal records) (218 BC (29th year of Qin Shi Huang))
3. Original Case: 敬等故纵弗论甾案
4. Key Figures: You Jing (攸㢑/敬) and other local officials; Ge Lu (盖庐), Zhi Tian (挚田), and Jian (瞗), judicial officers from Nan Commandery
5. Case Tags: Intentionally releasing criminals;Rebellion and treason;Official dereliction of duty;Qin-Han legal precedents

1. The Case of Ou Losing His Male Rank for Failure to Bow

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (Han Dynasty (c. 1st century BCE))
3. Original Case: 欧坐失拜男子爵案
4. Key Figures: Ou (the defendant, a commoner holding the "male" rank), the Commandant of the Court (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Rites and Law Integration;Disrespect (不敬);Deprivation of Noble Rank;Han Dynasty Legal System

1. The Case of Xu You's Desertion and Dereliction of Duty

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (200 AD (during the Battle of Guandu))
3. Original Case: 攸临阵脱逃、失职案
4. Key Figures: Xu You (许攸), Yuan Shao (袁绍), Shen Pei (审配)
5. Case Tags: Military Desertion;Dereliction of Duty;Treason;Ancient Military Law

1. Case of Yuan, Man, and Jin for Not Knowing the Yue Rebellion

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (c. 112 BC (Yuanding era, Emperor Wu of Han))
3. Original Case: 《榬、蛮、衿弗知越人反案》
4. Key Figures: Yuan (榬), Man (蛮), Jin (衿) – three local officials; Emperor Wu of Han; the Commandant of Justice (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Rebellion-Related Strict Liability;Collective Implication;Emperor Wu's Cruel Officials;Salt and Iron Debate Critique

1. Case of Xing and Chang Knowing about Theft and Dividing Stolen Goods

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (circa 60 BC (Western Han, during the reign of Emperor Xuan))
3. Original Case: 猩、敞知盗分赃案
4. Key Figures: Xing (thief leader), Zhang Chang (Governor of Jingzhao)
5. Case Tags: Theft;Receiving Stolen Property;Conspiracy;Ancient Chinese Law

1. Case of Rui Illegally Selling Public Land

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Early Han Dynasty, circa 2nd century BC)
3. Original Case: 芮盗卖公列地案
4. Key Figures: Rui (the defendant, likely a local person); the buyer of the public land; local magistrate and judicial officials of the Han dynasty
5. Case Tags: Illegal Sale of Public Land;Embezzlement of State Property;Han Dynasty Legal System;Land Fraud

1. The Case of Prison Officer Lan Fornicating with the Hidden Woman Nan

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (August, 200 BCE (the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: 狱史阑奸匿女子南案
4. Key Figures: Prison Officer Lan (狱史阑), Woman Nan (女子南, a fugitive from Zhao), Jiangling County Magistrate (江陵丞), Commandant of Jiangling (江陵守), Chief Prosecutor (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Sexual Assault by a Public Official;Abuse of Authority;Concealment of a Fugitive;Han Dynasty Criminal Law

1. Tian and Shi Adultery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China, Han Dynasty (c. 200 BCE (early Western Han))
3. Original Case: 田与市和奸案
4. Key Figures: Tian (male) and Shi (female)
5. Case Tags: Adultery;Consensual Illicit Intercourse;Criminal Procedure;Evidence Law

1. Case of Kong Stabbing the Maidservant for Stealing Money

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Han Dynasty (circa 2nd century BC), exact year unknown)
3. Original Case: 孔刺伤女子婢盗取钱案
4. Key Figures: Kong (husband), Kong's wife (the accused), the maidservant of Kong, Dong Zhongshu (the adjudicator)
5. Case Tags: Spring and Autumn Adjudication;Confucian Ethics in Law;Master-Servant Relationship;Justifiable Discipline

1. The Case of Liyang Magistrate Hui Stealing Official Rice

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Liyang County, under the jurisdiction of the Commandant of the Judiciary) (200 BC (7th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: 醴阳令恢盗县官米案
4. Key Figures: Hui (恢), Magistrate of Liyang, holder of the noble rank "Right Chief of the Masses" (右庶长); Judicial officer Yu of Jiangling (江陵余); Officials involved in interrogation
5. Case Tags: Theft by a Custodial Official;Embezzlement of Public Grain;Official Corruption;Han Dynasty Criminal Law

1. Wu You Evasion of Garrison Duty and Waist-Chopping Case

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Han Dynasty (exact year uncertain, circa 2nd century BCE))
3. Original Case: 毋忧逃避屯戍腰斩案
4. Key Figures: Wu You (毋忧), an absconded conscript
5. Case Tags: Military Service Evasion;Desertion;Capital Punishment;Ancient Chinese Law

1. The Succession Dispute between Han Jiu and Ji Se

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States China (circa 300 BC)
3. Original Case: 韩咎与几瑟争立案
4. Key Figures: Han Jiu (Prince Jiu), Ji Se (Prince Ji Se), King Xiang of Han, Gong Shu, Queen Dowager, Su Dai, and other court officials
5. Case Tags: Treason;Usurpation;Sedition;Exile

1. King Yan Zhao's Purge of Zizhi's Faction

2. Jurisdiction: Yan State, Warring States China (circa 314-311 BC)
3. Original Case: 燕昭王诛子之党羽案
4. Key Figures: King Yan Zhao (Ji Ping), Zizhi, King Kuai of Yan, Su Dai, Lu Maotou, General Shi Bei, Prince Ping
5. Case Tags: Political Rebellion;Treason;Usurpation of the Throne;Mass Execution

1. The Case of King Qian of Zhao Dismissing Li Mu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, Warring States China (c. 229 BC)
3. Original Case: 赵王迁罢李牧案（增补）
4. Key Figures: King Qian of Zhao, Li Mu (General), Guo Kai (Corrupt Minister), Qin Spies
5. Case Tags: Treason;Capital Offense;Conspiracy;Political Purge

1. The Case of Yu Qing Renouncing Office to Rescue Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States Period - States of Zhao, Wei, Qin) (ca. 265 BC)
3. Original Case: 虞卿弃相救魏齐案
4. Key Figures: Yu Qing (Minister of Zhao), Wei Qi (Former Chancellor of Wei), Fan Ju (Chancellor of Qin), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng)
5. Case Tags: Harboring a Fugitive;Revenge;Political Persecution;Righteous Defiance

1. Case of Wei Chancellor Zhai Qiang's Death and Prince Jin's Contention for the Chancellorship

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (Circa 310 BCE)
3. Original Case: 魏相翟强死、公子劲争相案
4. Key Figures: Zhai Qiang (deceased chancellor), Prince Jin of Wei (contender), Gan Mao (Qin general backing Prince Jin), King Huai of Chu (foreign supporter), other Wei princes and nobles
5. Case Tags: political succession crime;foreign interference in internal affairs;court factional strife;ancient Chinese customary law

1. Queen Dowager Xuan's Argument on Assisting Han Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin and State of Han, Warring States China (Around 300 BC)
3. Original Case: 宣太后论佐韩有利案
4. Key Figures: Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Shang Jin (Han envoy), Gan Mao (Qin minister), Zhang Cui (Han envoy)
5. Case Tags: National Security Decision;Alliance and Treaty Obligation;State Interest Assessment;Strategic Intervention Debate

1. The Case of Lin Xiangru Returning the Jade Intact and the Qin-Zhao Dispute at Mianchi

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao and Qin states, Warring States China (283 BC (Heshibi incident) and 279 BC (Mianchi meeting))
3. Original Case: 蔺相如完璧归赵、渑池会秦赵争讼案
4. Key Figures: Lin Xiangru (Zhao envoy), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po (Zhao general)
5. Case Tags: Attempted Theft of National Treasure;Insult and Coercion of a Foreign Head of State;Breach of Diplomatic Protocol and Good Faith;Conspiracy to Commit Territorial Encroachment

1. Case of Lord Mengchang Imprisoned in Qin

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (present-day Shaanxi) (circa 299 BC)
3. Original Case: 孟尝君被囚于秦案
4. Key Figures: Lord Mengchang (Tian Wen), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Mengchang's retainers (including a dog-mimic thief and a cock-crow imitator), the king's favorite concubine
5. Case Tags: False Imprisonment;Political Persecution;Escape from Custody;Abuse of Power