Chinese Cases

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

1. Case of the Zheng Fire, Zichan's Mass Search, Slaying Boyou's Ghost, and the Convict Riot

2. Jurisdiction: Zheng State (modern Henan, China), Spring and Autumn period (c. 535 BC (7th year of Duke Zhao of Lu))
3. Original Case: 郑国火灾、子产大索国中、戮伯有之鬼、治胥靡案
4. Key Figures: Zichan (Gongsun Qiao, Prime Minister of Zheng), Boyou (Liang Xiao, deceased noble), Xu Mi (convict laborers), the people of Zheng
5. Case Tags: Arson;Spreading Superstition and Inciting Panic;Prisoner Riot;Disturbing State Order

1. The Case of Xun Wu of Jin Besieging Gu and Refusing the Offer of Betrayal

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin and State of Gu (in present-day Hebei Province, China), Spring and Autumn Period (c. 520 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋荀吴围鼓、鼓人或请以城叛弗许案
4. Key Figures: Xun Wu (Zhonghang Muzi), a general of the State of Jin; the people and defenders of the State of Gu
5. Case Tags: Military Law;Treason;Siege Warfare;Good Faith Principle

1. The Case of Xing Hou and Yong Zi's Land Dispute and Shu Yu's Bribery

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, Spring and Autumn Period, China (528 BC)
3. Original Case: Xing Hou yu Yong Zi zheng tian, Shu Yu shou hui wang duan, Xing Hou chao sha Shu Yu Yong Zi an
4. Key Figures: Xing Hou (Marquis of Xing), Yong Zi, Shu Yu (Yangshe Fu), Shu Xiang (Yangshe Xi), Han Xuanzi (Han Qi)
5. Case Tags: Judicial Bribery;Courtroom Murder;Ancient Chinese Legal Precedent;Death Penalty for Corruption

1. Case of Zhao Wu's Death and the Regency of Han Qi and Qi Wu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn China (541 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋赵武死、韩起祁午执政案
4. Key Figures: Zhao Wu (Viscount Wen of Zhao), Han Qi (Viscount Xuan of Han), Qi Wu (son of Qi Xi), Duke Ping of Jin
5. Case Tags: Political Murder Allegation;Succession Crisis;Usurpation of Authority;Aristocratic Power Struggle

1. Case of Jin's Xun Wu Attacking Xianyu and Capturing Rong Manzi Chi to Return to Chu

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, Xianyu (Zhongshan), Rong Man (Man clan), Chu State (529 BC (Lu Zhaogong Year 13) and 506 BC (Lu Dinggong Year 4))
3. Original Case: 晋荀吴伐鲜虞、执戎蛮子赤归于楚案
4. Key Figures: Xun Wu (Zhonghang Muzi, general of Jin), Rong Manzi Chi (Chi, leader of the Rong Man tribe), King of Chu, Zhao Yang (Zhao Meng, head of Jin's government), Shi Mie (commander of Yin district)
5. Case Tags: War of Aggression;Extradition of Captive Leader;Breach of Asylum;Annexation of Subject State

1. Case of King Ling of Chu Hunting in Zhoulai and Zi Ge's Remonstrance by Reciting Qi Zhao

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Zhou Dynasty (ancient China) (530 BCE)
3. Original Case: King Ling of Chu Hunts at Zhoulai; Zi Ge Admonishes by Reciting Qi Zhao
4. Key Figures: King Ling of Chu (Mi Wei), Zi Ge (Zheng Dan, the Right Yin)
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Monarchical Authority;Squandering of State Resources;Disruption of Peasant Livelihood;Remonstrance Precedent

1. The Stone Speaks in Wei Yu and Shi Kuang's Discourse on Punishment and Administration

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn period of ancient China (c. 534 BC (8th year of Duke Zhao of Lu))
3. Original Case: 晋魏榆石言、师旷论刑政案
4. Key Figures: Shi Kuang (court musician and advisor), Duke Ping of Jin, Shu Xiang (minister), the people of Jin
5. Case Tags: Supernatural Omen Case;Advisory Remonstrance Case;Ancient Administrative Law;Monarchical Counsel Case

1. The Case of Zheng Casting the Penal Code and Shu Xiang of Jin Sending a Letter to Criticize It

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, State of Jin (Ancient China, Spring and Autumn Period) (536 BCE)
3. Original Case: 郑人铸刑书、晋叔向贻书讥之案
4. Key Figures: Zichan (Gongsun Qiao, Chief Minister of Zheng), Shu Xiang (Yangshe Xi, Noble of Jin)
5. Case Tags: Promulgation of Written Criminal Law;Codification of Law;Ritual-Law Controversy;Spring and Autumn Reforms

1. Case of King Ling of Chu Executing Qing Feng at the Shen Assembly

2. Jurisdiction: Chu State, China (at Shen, modern-day Nanyang, Henan) (538 BC)
3. Original Case: 楚灵王申之会、执齐庆封杀之案
4. Key Figures: King Ling of Chu (Xiong Qian), Qing Feng (fugitive noble of Qi), assembled feudal lords
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Political Execution;War of Aggression;Hegemonic Intervention

1. Case of Han Xuanzi's Visit to Lu and Viewing the State Archives

2. Jurisdiction: State of Lu (China, Spring and Autumn period) (540 BC)
3. Original Case: 韩宣子聘鲁、观书于太史氏案
4. Key Figures: Han Xuanzi (Han Qi, envoy of Jin), the Grand Historian of Lu (Taishi)
5. Case Tags: Espionage;State Secrets;Diplomatic Immunity;Cultural Heritage Protection

1. The Case of Xu Wufan's Sister's Marriage Contest and the Exile of Zinan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, Spring and Autumn period China (541 BC)
3. Original Case: Xu Wufan zhi Mei Zhenghun, Zi Chan Zhu Zinan An
4. Key Figures: Xu Wufan (Zheng noble), Xu Wufan's sister, Zinan (Gongsun Chu), Zixi (Gongsun Hei), Zichan (Chief Minister of Zheng)
5. Case Tags: Contested Betrothal;Armed Assault Among Nobility;Judgment by Social Rank;Banishment Punishment

1. Zichan's Discourse on Establishing a Policy of Open Criticism

2. Jurisdiction: Zheng State, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (c. 542 BC)
3. Original Case: 郑子产论立谤政案
4. Key Figures: Zichan (Gongsun Qiao), Ran Ming
5. Case Tags: Freedom of Speech in Antiquity;Political Criticism and Governance;Ancient Chinese Legal Philosophy;Public Opinion and Statecraft

1. The Case of Feng Juan's Exile for Requesting a Sacrificial Hunt

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, Spring and Autumn Period, Ancient China (543 BC)
3. Original Case: Zheng Feng Juan Jiang Ji Qing Tian Bei Zhu An (The Case of Feng Juan Being Banished for Requesting a Hunt Before a Sacrifice)
4. Key Figures: Feng Juan (Zi Zhang), Zi Chan (Gongsun Qiao), Zi Pi (Han Hu)
5. Case Tags: Ritual Protocol Violation;Attempted Armed Insurrection;Banishment;Political Pardon

1. Zi Chan's Refusal to Destroy the Village Schools

2. Jurisdiction: Zheng State, Spring and Autumn China (542 BCE)
3. Original Case: 郑子产不毁乡校案
4. Key Figures: Zi Chan (Gongsun Qiao), Ran Ming (Zong Mie)
5. Case Tags: Sedition;Defamation of Government;Unlawful Assembly;Suppression of Free Speech

1. Case of Qing Feng's Arrogance and the Plot of Lu Pugui and Wang He Against the Qing Clan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi (Ancient China) (545 BC)
3. Original Case: 齐庆封骄纵、卢蒲癸王何谋讨庆氏案
4. Key Figures: Qing Feng, Lu Pugui, Wang He, Qing She
5. Case Tags: Usurpation of Authority;Assassination;Insurrection;Political Conspiracy

1. The Revenge Assassination of Duke Yi of Qi by Bing Chu and Yan Zhi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi (齐国), Spring and Autumn China (Summer, 609 BC)
3. Original Case: 邴歜、阎职弑齐懿公复仇案
4. Key Figures: Bing Chu (邴歜), Yan Zhi (阎职), Duke Yi of Qi (齐懿公)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Revenge Killing;Political Assassination;Usurpation and Conspiracy

1. The Case of Duke Xiang of Zheng's Surrender to King Zhuang of Chu and the King's Clemency

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng and State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (597 BCE)
3. Original Case: 郑伯肉袒牵羊降楚、楚庄王舍郑案
4. Key Figures: Duke Xiang of Zheng (Zheng Bo) and King Zhuang of Chu
5. Case Tags: War of Aggression;Unconditional Surrender;Executive Clemency;Sovereignty Preservation

1. Yan Ying Mourning Duke Zhuang's Corpse and Cui Zhu Sparing Him Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Zhou Dynasty China (548 BC)
3. Original Case: 晏婴枕庄公尸哭、崔杼释之案
4. Key Figures: Yan Ying (Yanzi), Cui Zhu, Duke Zhuang of Qi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Political Assassination;Ritual Mourning;Immunity Granted

1. The Case of Zikong's Usurpation and the People of Zheng Killing Him

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, China (Spring and Autumn period) (554 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Zikong's Tyranny and the Killing by the Guoren of Zheng
4. Key Figures: Zikong (Prince Jia of Zheng), Zizhan (Gongsun Shezhi), Zixi (Gongsun Xia), the guoren (capital residents and lesser nobility) of Zheng, Duke Jian of Zheng
5. Case Tags: Treason;Subversion of State Order;Political Lynching;Abuse of Office

1. Case of Xun Yan and Shi Gai Killing the Clan of Duke Xi and Banishing the Noble Sons

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn period China (573 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋荀偃、士匄杀僖公之族、逐群公子案
4. Key Figures: Xun Yan (Zhonghang Yan), Shi Gai (Fan Xuanzi), the clan of Duke Xi (Duke Li of Jin), the various princely sons (gongzi)
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Clan Extermination;Exile;Power Struggle