Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Qu Yuan's Exile

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (present-day Hubei and Hunan provinces) (circa 304 BC (first exile); circa 296 BC (second exile))
3. Original Case: 屈原流放案
4. Key Figures: Qu Yuan (屈原), King Huai of Chu (楚怀王), Shangguan Dafu (上官大夫), Jin Shang (靳尚), King Qingxiang of Chu (楚顷襄王)
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Defamation and False Accusation;Abuse of Royal Power;Miscarriage of Justice

1. The Case of Shi She Releasing His Father and Committing Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Warring States period) (circa 500 BCE (Spring and Autumn period transition to Warring States, traditionally rendered within Warring States narratives))
3. Original Case: 石奢纵父自刎案
4. Key Figures: Shi She (石奢, Prime Minister of Chu), King Zhao of Chu (楚昭王), Shi She's father (unidentified murderer)
5. Case Tags: Filial Piety versus Rule of Law;Concealment of Homicide by Public Official;Self-Immolation of a Magistrate;Confucian Moral Dilemma in Criminal Justice

1. The Murder of Wu Qi and the Execution of the Corpse-Shooters by King Su

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States period, Ancient China (381 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴起被害及肃王诛射尸者案
4. Key Figures: Wu Qi (reformer); King Dao of Chu; King Su of Chu; Chu aristocrats (including shooters like members of the Yangcheng and other noble clans)
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Lèse-majesté (Desecration of Royal Remains);Collective Punishment by Clan Extermination;Political Purge

1. Case of Shu Qing Homicide

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States period, State of Qin) (circa 338 BCE)
3. Original Case: 舒庆杀人案
4. Key Figures: Shu Qing (defendant/forensic physician), Qin Huiwen Wang (victim, King of Qin)
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Forensic Medicine;Regicide;Legal History

1. Case of Zuo Sima Shi v. Chen Fu over Farmland

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (present-day Jingmen, Hubei Province) (circa 322 BCE (during the reign of King Huai of Chu))
3. Original Case: 左司马适与陈弗讼田案
4. Key Figures: Zuo Sima Shi (左司马适, a military official); Chen Fu (陈弗, a commoner)
5. Case Tags: Property Dispute;Land Usurpation;Judicial Precedent;Ancient Legal Procedure

1. The Case of Fan Ju's Guarantor Collective Punishment

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin (Warring States China) (257 BC)
3. Original Case: 范雎保任连坐案
4. Key Figures: Fan Ju (Fan Sui), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Zheng Anping, Wang Ji
5. Case Tags: Guarantor Liability;Collective Punishment;Treason by Surrender;Royal Immunity

1. The Case of King Zhaoxiang of Qin Ordering Bai Qi to Commit Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States Period, Ancient China (257 BC (50th year of King Zhaoxiang's reign, 11th month))
3. Original Case: 秦昭王赐死白起案
4. Key Figures: King Zhaoxiang of Qin (Ying Ji), Bai Qi (Lord Wu'an), Fan Ju (Marquis Ying)
5. Case Tags: Ancient Military Insubordination;Political Purge;Forced Suicide of a General;Capital Punishment in Warring States

1. The Case of Shang Yang Being Denied Lodging While Fleeing

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (338 BC)
3. Original Case: Case of Shang Yang Fleeing and Being Refused Board at an Inn
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (Lord Shang), the Innkeeper, King Huiwen of Qin
5. Case Tags: Legal Irony;Strict Legalism;Political Persecution;Collective Punishment

1. The Case of Shang Yang Punishing Prince Qian and Tattooing Gongsun Jia

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (Warring States Period) (c. 355 BC)
3. Original Case: 商鞅刑公子虔、黥公孙贾案
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (Wei Yang), Prince Qian (Gongzi Qian), Gongsun Jia, Crown Prince Si (later King Huiwen of Qin), Duke Xiao of Qin
5. Case Tags: Legalist Reform;Corporal Punishment;Punishment of Nobility;Facial Tattooing Penalty

1. Case of Fugitive Slaves Surrendering

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (circa 4th–3rd century BCE)
3. Original Case: 隶臣妾逃亡自出案
4. Key Figures: Li chen and li qie (male and female official slaves under state bondage)
5. Case Tags: slave escape;voluntary surrender;Qin law;corporal punishment

1. The Case of Burglary into A's House

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States period, State of Qin) (circa 3rd century BC)
3. Original Case: 贼入甲室案
4. Key Figures: A (the victim), the burglar, the neighbors (四邻), the neighborhood heads (典, 老)
5. Case Tags: Home Invasion;Mutual Surveillance System;Legal Duty to Rescue;Qin Dynasty Law

1. The Case of the Accusation of an Unfilial Son

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (Warring States period, circa 3rd century BCE)
3. Original Case: 告子不孝案
4. Key Figures: Father: Shi Wu Jia (士伍甲); Son: Bing (丙)
5. Case Tags: Filial Piety Law;Capital Punishment;Parental Authority;Pre-Qin Legal System

1. The Head-Seizing Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (Warring States Period) (Around 356 BC)
3. Original Case: Duoshou An (夺首案)
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (judge), Two Qin soldiers
5. Case Tags: Military Merit Law;Private Fight Punishment;Legalist Reform;Evidence-Based Judgment

1. Battle of Boju and Nang Wa's Flight to Zheng Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu and State of Wu (Spring and Autumn period China) (506 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴楚柏举之战、囊瓦奔郑案
4. Key Figures: Nang Wa (Zichang, Chief Minister of Chu), King Zhao of Chu, King Helü of Wu, Wu Zixu, Sun Wu
5. Case Tags: Treason;Desertion in Battle;Dereliction of Command;War Crimes (ancient context)

1. The Case of Mao Falsely Accusing Jiang of Cattle Theft

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (245 BCE (2nd year of King Zheng of Qin, late Warring States period))
3. Original Case: 毛诬讲盗牛案
4. Key Figures: Mao (毛), Jiang (讲)
5. Case Tags: False Accusation;Retaliatory Punishment;Judicial Torture;Qin Legal System

1. The Case of the Husband Stealing Money and the Wife Concealing It

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC - 3rd century BC)
3. Original Case: 夫盗钱妻匿案
4. Key Figures: Husband (unnamed thief), Wife (unnamed concealer)
5. Case Tags: Spousal Privilege;Concealment of Stolen Property;Pre-Qin Legalism;Joint Liability

1. The Case of Ji's Negligent Misconduct in Office

2. Jurisdiction: Qin State, Warring States China (225 BCE)
3. Original Case: 暨过误失坐官案
4. Key Figures: Ji (the accused petty official), the Jiangling County court, Qin appellate authorities
5. Case Tags: Criminal Negligence;Official Malfeasance;Qin Legal System;Judicial Appeal

1. Case of Duchess Nanzi's Licentiousness and Crown Prince Kuaikui's Attempted Assassination Leading to Exile

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (Spring and Autumn period China) (496 BC)
3. Original Case: 卫灵公夫人南子淫乱、太子蒯聩欲杀之不成奔宋案
4. Key Figures: Nanzi (Duchess of Wei), Kuaikui (Crown Prince of Wei, later Duke Zhuang of Wei), Duke Ling of Wei, Song Chao (lover of Nanzi, noble from Song), Xi Yangsu (retainer of Kuaikui)
5. Case Tags: Attempted Assassination;Political Conspiracy;Royal Scandal;Exile

1. Case of Zhao Yang Killing Handan Wu and the Attack on the Zhao Clan by Xun Yin and Shi Jishe

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin (present-day China) (497 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋赵鞅杀邯郸午、荀寅士吉射攻赵氏案
4. Key Figures: Zhao Yang (Zhao Jianzi), Handan Wu (Zhao Wu), Xun Yin (Zhonghang Wenzi), Shi Jishe (Fan Zhaozi), Duke Ding of Jin, Zhao Ji, She Bin, clans of Han, Wei, and Zhi
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Clan Rebellion;Feudal Treason;Noble Usurpation

1. The Case of Confucius Assisting at Jiagu and Qi Returning Wenyang Land to Lu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Lu and State of Qi (Spring and Autumn Period, Ancient China) (500 BC (10th year of Duke Ding of Lu))
3. Original Case: 孔子相夹谷、齐人归鲁汶阳之田案
4. Key Figures: Confucius (Kong Qiu), Duke Ding of Lu, Duke Jing of Qi, Li Chu (Qi minister)
5. Case Tags: Diplomatic Coercion;Treaty Breach;Restorative Justice;Boundary Dispute