Chinese Cases

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

1. Sun Bin's Mutilation by Pang Juan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC)
3. Original Case: 孙膑被庞涓施膑刑案
4. Key Figures: Sun Bin, Pang Juan
5. Case Tags: Intentional Injury;Malicious False Accusation;Abuse of Power;Fratricidal Betrayal

1. The Case of Queen Dowager of Qi Installing Prince Jian according to Law

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States period, China (Around 265 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Queen of Qi Xiangwang Installing Her Son Jian by Law
4. Key Figures: Queen Dowager Junwang (consort of King Xiang of Qi), Prince Tian Jian (later King Jian of Qi), King Xiang of Qi (Tian Fazhang), opposing court ministers
5. Case Tags: Royal Inheritance Dispute;Primogeniture Law;Patriarchal Succession;Ancient Chinese Legal Case

1. Case of Wang Sunjia Executing Zhuo Chi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, China (Warring States Period) (284 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Wang Sun Jia Killing Zhuo Chi
4. Key Figures: Wang Sunjia (retainer of King Min of Qi), Zhuo Chi (general of Chu)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Vigilante Justice;Extrajudicial Killing;Loyalist Revenge

1. Case of King Wei of Qi Boiling the Magistrate of E and Rewarding the Magistrate of Jimo

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States China (344 BC)
3. Original Case: Qi Wei Wang Peng E Shang Jimo An
4. Key Figures: King Wei of Qi, Magistrate of Jimo, Magistrate of E, courtiers and attendants of King Wei
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Defamation;Judicial Corruption;Capital Punishment

1. The Assassination of Lord Chunshen

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (238 BC)
3. Original Case: 春申君被刺案
4. Key Figures: Lord Chunshen (Huang Xie), Li Yuan, Li Yan (Queen Dowager), King Kaolie of Chu, King You of Chu
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Palace Coup;Usurpation;Conspiracy

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