Chinese Cases

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

Case of the Waiting Official Guangde's Unauthorized Lending of Public Funds in the Fourth Year of Yuankang
  1. Case of the Waiting Official Guangde's Unauthorized Lending of Public Funds in the Fourth Year of Yuankang
  2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, Juyan Region (present-day Gansu Province, China) (62 BC (the fourth year of the Yuankang era, under Emperor Xuan of the Western Han))
  3. Original Case: 元康四年候史广德贷钱案
  4. Key Figures: Guangde (候史, an official in charge of patrol and logistics at the frontier)
  5. Case Tags: Misappropriation of Public Funds;Malfeasance in Office;Administrative Violation;Western Han Frontier Judiciary
Case of Shi Robbing Yu
  1. Case of Shi Robbing Yu
  2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin (present-day China) (246 BC (second year of King Zheng of Qin, later Qin Shi Huang))
  3. Original Case: 识劫𡞔案
  4. Key Figures: Shi (offender), Yu (female victim), judicial officials of Qin
  5. Case Tags: Robbery;Extortion;Ancient Chinese Law;Qin Dynasty Judicial Review
Gui and Suo Conspiracy to Shift a Reward Case
  1. Gui and Suo Conspiracy to Shift a Reward Case
  2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (Anlu County, Nan Commandery) (195 BC (12th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
  3. Original Case: Gui, Suo Xiang Yi Mou Gou An
  4. Key Figures: Gui (constable of Anlu), Suo (crossbow commander of Anlu)
  5. Case Tags: Fraud and Conspiracy;Han Dynasty Law;Reward Dispute;Zou Yan Shu Case
The Case of Zeng, Shun and Others Accepting and Giving Bribes to Pervert the Law
  1. The Case of Zeng, Shun and Others Accepting and Giving Bribes to Pervert the Law
  2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Beidi Commandery, present-day northwestern China) (200 BCE (7th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
  3. Original Case: 甑、顺等受、行賕枉法案
  4. Key Figures: Zeng (甑, a woman), Shun (顺, a slave), and other involved parties
  5. Case Tags: Bribery;Perverting Justice;Fugitive Registration;Zouyan System
The Case of Prison Scribe Ling Xian's Dereliction and Bribery
  1. The Case of Prison Scribe Ling Xian's Dereliction and Bribery
  2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China, Juyan County (present-day Gansu/Inner Mongolia border region) (c. 28 BCE (Late Western Han, during the reign of Emperor Cheng))
  3. Original Case: Yushi Lingxian Shizhi Shouhui An
  4. Key Figures: Ling Xian (prison scribe), Zhao (convict), Juyan County magistrate and judicial officers
  5. Case Tags: Bribery;Dereliction of Duty;Prisoner Escape;Official Corruption
The Case of Pi Si Unjustly Sentenced to Chengdan
  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)
Case of Jing et al. Intentionally Releasing Offenders and Failing to Punish
  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
The Case of Ou Losing His Male Rank for Failure to Bow
  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
The Case of Xu You's Desertion and Dereliction of Duty
  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
Case of Yuan, Man, and Jin for Not Knowing the Yue Rebellion
  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
Case of Xing and Chang Knowing about Theft and Dividing Stolen Goods
  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
Case of Rui Illegally Selling Public Land
  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
The Case of Prison Officer Lan Fornicating with the Hidden Woman Nan
  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
Tian and Shi Adultery Case
  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
Case of Kong Stabbing the Maidservant for Stealing Money
  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
The Case of Liyang Magistrate Hui Stealing Official Rice
  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
Wu You Evasion of Garrison Duty and Waist-Chopping Case
  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
The Succession Dispute between Han Jiu and Ji Se
  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
King Yan Zhao's Purge of Zizhi's Faction
  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
The Case of King Qian of Zhao Dismissing Li Mu
  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