Chinese Cases

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

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

1. The Case of King Huai of Chu's Luring, Detention, and Death in Qin

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu and State of Qin (Warring States China) (299 BC – 296 BC)
3. Original Case: 楚怀王被诱执、客死于秦案
4. Key Figures: King Huai of Chu (Xiong Huai), King Zhaoxiang of Qin (Ying Ji), Zi Lan (Prince of Chu)
5. Case Tags: State Hostage-Taking;Diplomatic Deception;Breach of Safe Conduct;Abduction of a Sovereign

1. Zou Ji's Law Enforcement and Supervision of Treacherous Officials Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States China (circa 357 BC)
3. Original Case: 邹忌谨修法律督奸吏案
4. Key Figures: Zou Ji (Prime Minister), King Wei of Qi, unnamed corrupt officials
5. Case Tags: Anti-Corruption and Bribery;Abuse of Power by Public Officials;Judicial Reform and Due Process;Defamation and Political Purge

1. Shen Buhai Upholds the Law Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States China (战国韩国) (c. 350 BC (约公元前350年))
3. Original Case: 申不害循法以治案
4. Key Figures: Shen Buhai (申不害), Marquis Zhao of Han (韩昭侯)
5. Case Tags: Seeking Official Post Through Favoritism;Merit-Based Appointment System;Legalist Impartiality;Self-Admission and Apology

1. Wu Qi's Enforcement of Law by Clarifying Decrees

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (c. 386-381 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴起明法审令执法案
4. Key Figures: Wu Qi (Military Commander and Reformer), King Dao of Chu, Offending Chu Aristocrat
5. Case Tags: Reform and Punishment;Enforcement of Law;Nobility Prosecution;Rule of Law

1. Li Kui's "Book of Law" Judicial Heritage Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 400 BCE)
3. Original Case: 李悝《法经》司法传承案
4. Key Figures: Li Kui (李悝), Marquis Wen of Wei (魏文侯), Shang Yang (商鞅), later Legalist scholars
5. Case Tags: Legal Codification;Legalist Philosophy;Judicial Precedent;Intellectual Property-like Dispute

1. King Zhao of Yan's Purge After the Rebellion of Zizhi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Yan, Warring States China (circa 311 BC)
3. Original Case: 子之之乱后燕昭王清算案
4. Key Figures: King Zhao of Yan (Ji Ping), Zizhi, King Kuai of Yan, Prince Ping
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Treason;Regicide;Post-War Retribution

1. The Case of Shen Buhai Requesting an Official Position for His Brother Being Rejected

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States period, ancient China (circa 350 BC)
3. Original Case: 申不害为兄请官被拒案
4. Key Figures: Shen Buhai, King Zhaohou of Han, Shen Buhai's elder brother
5. Case Tags: Nepotism;Legalism;Conflict of Interest;Rule of Law

1. The Case of Marquis Zhao of Han Hiding a Worn-out Trousers

2. Jurisdiction: Han State, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC (during the reign of Marquis Zhao, 362–333 BC))
3. Original Case: 韩昭侯藏弊袴案
4. Key Figures: Marquis Zhao of Han (Han Zhaohou), palace attendants
5. Case Tags: Selective Reward;Legalist Governance;Sovereign Discretion;Symbolic Legislation

1. The Flogging of Fan Ju by Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: Wei State, Warring States Period, ancient China (c. 271 BC)
3. Original Case: 范雎被魏齐笞击案
4. Key Figures: Fan Ju (victim, later Chancellor of Qin), Wei Qi (Chancellor of Wei, perpetrator), Xu Jia (accuser, envoy of Wei), Zheng Anping (rescuer), Wang Ji (Qin envoy)
5. Case Tags: Torture;False Accusation;Extrajudicial Punishment;Revenge

1. The Case of Lord Xinling's Forged Execution of Jin Bi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (present-day Henan Province, China) and State of Zhao (257 BC)
3. Original Case: 信陵君矫杀晋鄙案
4. Key Figures: Lord Xinling (Wei Wuji), Jin Bi, King Anxi of Wei, Ru Ji, Hou Ying, Zhu Hai
5. Case Tags: Treason;Murder;Forgery of Royal Command;Usurpation of Military Authority

1. Li Kui's Fa Jing Legislation Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 403 BCE)
3. Original Case: Li Kui's Enactment of the Fa Jing (Canon of Laws)
4. Key Figures: Li Kui (Chancellor of Wei), Marquis Wen of Wei (Wei Wen Hou)
5. Case Tags: Theft and Robbery;Homicide and Violent Assault;Criminal Procedure;Legal Codification

1. The Case of Yu Qing Abandoning the Chancellorship to Save Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao State (Warring States China) (c. 259 BC (Late Warring States period))
3. Original Case: 虞卿弃相救魏齐案
4. Key Figures: Yu Qing (Prime Minister of Zhao), Wei Qi (Former Prime Minister of Wei), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng), Fan Ju (Prime Minister of Qin)
5. Case Tags: Harboring a Fugitive;Dereliction of Duty;Extradition Dispute;Breach of Allegiance

1. The Shaqiu Incident: Starvation of King Wuling of Zhao

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, Warring States China (295 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of King Wuling of Zhao Starved at Shaqiu
4. Key Figures: King Wuling of Zhao (Zhao Yong), King Huiwen of Zhao (Zhao He), Prince Zhang, Li Dui, Zhao Cheng, Fei Yi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Coup d'état;Unlawful Confinement;Treason

1. The Execution of Li Mu

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao State, China (Warring States Period) (229 BC)
3. Original Case: Case of Li Mu's Execution
4. Key Figures: Li Mu (General of Zhao), King Youmiu of Zhao (King Qian), Guo Kai (Corrupt Minister), Sima Shang (General), Zhao Cong (General), Yan Ju (General)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Political Frame-up;Summary Execution;Military Purge

1. The Case of Zhao She Executing Lord Pingyuan's Retainer

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, China (Warring States period) (Circa 271 BC, during the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao)
3. Original Case: Zhao She Kills the Retainer of Lord Pingyuan
4. Key Figures: Zhao She (tax collector), Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng, noble brother of the king), the steward (head retainer of Lord Pingyuan), King Huiwen of Zhao
5. Case Tags: Tax Evasion;Capital Punishment;Noble Privilege;Rule of Law