Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Duke Qing of Qi Detaining Jin Envoy Xi Ke

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qi and Jin states during the Spring and Autumn period) (592 BC)
3. Original Case: 齐顷公执晋使郤克案
4. Key Figures: Duke Qing of Qi; Xi Ke, Senior Minister of Jin; Xiao Tong Shu Zi, Dowager Duchess of Qi; Duke Jing of Jin
5. Case Tags: Diplomatic Insult;Violation of Envoy Immunity;Extrajudicial Killing;Interstate War of Vengeance

1. Duke Jing of Jin Attempts to Execute Defeated Generals Xun Linfu and Shi Hui, Admonished by Shi Zhenzi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Eastern Zhou Dynasty, China (597 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋景公欲杀败军之将荀林父、士渫浊谏止案
4. Key Figures: Duke Jing of Jin, Xun Linfu (commander of the central army), Shi Hui (also known as Shi Zhenzi or Shi Wozhuo, a high official), Xian Hu (deputy commander)
5. Case Tags: Military Law;Capital Offense;Pardon;Admonition

1. Case of Yu Quan's Forceful Remonstrance with King Wen of Chu and Self-Mutilation as Gatekeeper

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (Around 675 BC)
3. Original Case: 鬻拳强谏楚文王、自刑守门案
4. Key Figures: Yu Quan (鬻拳), King Wen of Chu (楚文王)
5. Case Tags: Coercion of the Monarch;Self-Mutilation (Yue Punishment);Forced Remonstrance;Feudal Loyalty and Atonement

1. Case of Qu Xia's Defeat and Suicide in the Campaign against Luo

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (699 BC)
3. Original Case: 屈瑕伐罗败绩自缢案
4. Key Figures: Qu Xia (Mo'ao of Chu), King Wu of Chu, Luo State, Lu Rong Tribe
5. Case Tags: Military Defeat;Dereliction of Command Duty;Suicide after Battle;Sovereign Pardon

1. Case of Fu Xia Assassinating Zi Yi and Being Executed by Duke Li of Zheng

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Henan, China) (680 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Fu Xia Murdering the Zheng Ruler and Subsequently Being Killed by Duke Li
4. Key Figures: Fu Xia (minister of Zheng), Zi Yi (also known as Zhengzi, ruler of Zheng), Duke Li of Zheng (exiled ruler, later restored)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Political Assassination;Treason;Betrayal and Execution

1. The Murder of Duke Xiang of Qi and the Usurpation by Gongsun Wuzhi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Ancient China (Spring and Autumn Period) (686 BC (Winter))
3. Original Case: 连称、管至父弑齐襄公、公孙无知篡位案
4. Key Figures: Lian Cheng, Guan Zhifu, Gongsun Wuzhi, Duke Xiang of Qi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Usurpation;Political Conspiracy;Treason

1. The Case of Gongsun Yan Contesting a Chariot and Shooting Ying Kaoshu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng (China, Spring and Autumn period) (712 BC (32nd year of Duke Zhuang of Zheng))
3. Original Case: 公孙阏争车射颍考叔案
4. Key Figures: Gongsun Yan (Zidu), Ying Kaoshu, Duke Zhuang of Zheng
5. Case Tags: Intentional Homicide (故意杀人);Chariot-Seizing Assault (争车伤人);Treacherous Shooting (暗箭杀人);Curse as Justice (诅咒复仇)

1. Case of the Shi Qi Ding (Military Law Violation)

2. Jurisdiction: Western Zhou Dynasty, China (Mid-Western Zhou period (approx. 10th century BC))
3. Original Case: 师旂鼎·军法违纪案
4. Key Figures: Shi Qi (Plaintiff/Officer), Bo Mao Fu (Judge/Commander), Zhong Pu (Defendants/Subordinates), Yin (Intermediary/Messenger), Zhong Shi (Scribe)
5. Case Tags: Military Law;Mutiny/Disobedience;Ancient Judicial Procedure;Commutation

1. The Case of Ji Liang's Admonition to Pursue the Chu Army

2. Jurisdiction: State of Sui (present-day Suizhou, Hubei, China) (704 BCE)
3. Original Case: 随国季梁谏追楚师案
4. Key Figures: Ji Liang (minister of Sui), Duke of Sui (ruler of Sui), King Wu of Chu
5. Case Tags: Malfeasance in military command;Endangering state security;Spring and Autumn period historical case;Political remonstrance and people-centered thought

1. Case of Li Ji Slandering Shensheng

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (656 BC)
3. Original Case: 骊姬谗杀申生案
4. Key Figures: Li Ji (骊姬), Shensheng (申生), Duke Xian of Jin (晋献公), Chong'er (重耳), Yiwu (夷吾), Xun Xi (荀息)
5. Case Tags: Political Conspiracy;Slander and Frame-up;Inheritance Dispute;Forced Suicide

1. The Case of Duke Huan of Qi Detaining the Marquis of Cai

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, State of Cai (Spring and Autumn Period China) (656 BC)
3. Original Case: 齐桓公执蔡侯案
4. Key Figures: Duke Huan of Qi (Plaintiff/Heavener), Marquis Mu of Cai (Defendant), Bao Shuya (Qi Strategist)
5. Case Tags: Military Aggression;Political Detention;Breach of Alliance;Maritime Conflict

1. Case of Ziyu's Military Review and Weijia's Discourse on Punishment

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (633 BC (27th year of Duke Xi of Lu))
3. Original Case: Ziyu Zhi Bing, Weijia Lun Xing An (子玉治兵、蒍贾论刑案)
4. Key Figures: Ziyu (Cheng Dechen), Weijia, Ziwen (former chief minister of Chu)
5. Case Tags: Military Discipline;Excessive Corporal Punishment;Political Prophecy;Historical Admonition

1. The Case of Li Li's Misjudgment and Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn period) (During the reign of Duke Wen of Jin (circa 636–628 BC))
3. Original Case: Li Li Guo Ting Sha Ren, Fu Jian Zi Cai An
4. Key Figures: Li Li (chief judge of the State of Jin), Duke Wen of Jin (ruler)
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Execution;Judicial Accountability;Capital Punishment;Self-imposed Death Sentence

1. The Case of the Eunuch Pi Reporting Lü Sheng and Xi Rui's Plot to Burn the Ducal Palace

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn period) (636 BC)
3. Original Case: 寺人披告发吕甥、郤芮谋焚公宫案
4. Key Figures: Duke Wen of Jin (Chong\'er), Eunuch Pi (Bo Di), Lü Sheng, Xi Rui
5. Case Tags: Treason;Conspiracy to Murder;Arson Plot;Palace Coup Attempt

1. The Case of Xu Chen Recommending Xi Que

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (Around 632 BC)
3. Original Case: 胥臣举郜缺案
4. Key Figures: Xu Chen (胥臣), Xi Que (郤缺), Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), Xi Rui (郤芮)
5. Case Tags: Political Rehabilitation;Descendants of Criminals;Meritocratic Appointment;Pardon and Restoration

1. Litigation between Marquis Wei and Yuan Xuan and the Marquis' Defeat and Arrest

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei / State of Jin (trial held under Jin hegemony), Zhou Dynasty China (632 BC (Winter, 28th year of Duke Xi of Lu))
3. Original Case: 卫侯与元咺争讼、卫侯败诉被执案
4. Key Figures: Marquis Cheng of Wei (Wei Chenggong), Yuan Xuan, Duke Wen of Jin, Ning Wuzi (Ning Yu), Shi Rong, Zhen Zhuangzi
5. Case Tags: Inter-state Hegemonic Arbitration;Feudal Vassal Trial;Breach of Allegiance and Murder;Execution of Judicial Officer

1. The Case of Duke Cheng of Wei's Return and the Covenant with the People

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (卫国), under the hegemonic jurisdiction of Jin (晋国), Spring and Autumn China (630 BC (Spring and Autumn Period))
3. Original Case: 卫侯归国、宁武子与卫人盟誓案
4. Key Figures: Duke Cheng of Wei (卫成公), Ning Wuzi (宁武子/Ning Yu), Yuan Xuan (元咺), Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), Shu Wu (叔武), Prince Xia (公子瑕)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Breach of Covenant;Hegemonic Intervention;Usurpation

1. Case of Xu Chen's Discourse on Respect and Virtue in Recommending the Worthy

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (c. 632 BCE)
3. Original Case: 胥臣论敬与德以举贤案
4. Key Figures: Xu Chen (Jiu Ji), Duke Wen of Jin (Chong'er), Xi Que (Ji Que)
5. Case Tags: Merit-based Appointment;Exemption from Guilt by Association;Conflict of Interest Waiver;Ancient Confucian Governance Precedent

1. Case of Jia Ji Ordering Xu Juju to Kill Yang Chufu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn period China (621 BC)
3. Original Case: 贾季使续鞫居杀阳处父案
4. Key Figures: Jia Ji (Hu Shegu), Xu Juju (Xu Jianbo), Yang Chufu, Zhao Dun
5. Case Tags: Murder;Solicitation to Commit Murder;Political Assassination;Ancient Chinese Law

1. Case of Duke Zhao of Song Attempting to Remove the Princelings and Yue Yu Resigning as Minister of Justice

2. Jurisdiction: State of Song (Spring and Autumn period China) (619 BC)
3. Original Case: 宋昭公欲去群公子、乐豫辞司寇案
4. Key Figures: Duke Zhao of Song, Yue Yu (Minister of Justice), the various princelings (gongzi) of Song, the Mu and Xiang clans, Gongsun Gu, Gongsun Zheng, Gongzi Ang
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Clan Conflict;Resignation in Protest;Noble Resistance