Ancient Chinese Law

Examination of feudal legal codes and precedents in historical China

Sun Brothers' Land Dispute Case in Linze
  1. Sun Brothers' Land Dispute Case in Linze
  2. Jurisdiction: China, Jin Dynasty, Linze County (circa 3rd-4th century CE)
  3. Original Case: 临泽孙氏兄弟田产争讼案
  4. DefendantsSunPlaintiffsSunJudgesZhang HuInstitutionsLinze County Office
  5. Case Tags: Inheritance Dispute;Ancient Chinese Law;Family Ethics;Mediation
Case of Hua Yi Implicated in Yuan Yi's Bribery
  1. Case of Hua Yi Implicated in Yuan Yi's Bribery
  2. Jurisdiction: China, Jin Dynasty (272 CE)
  3. Original Case: 华廙坐袁毅货赇案
  4. DefendantsHua YiYuan YiJudgesEmperor Wu of JinInstitutionsCourt of Judicature (廷尉)
  5. Case Tags: Bribery Case;Political Corruption;Ancient Chinese Law;Impeachment
Case of Flogging of Officials in Wu Slips
  1. Case of Flogging of Officials in Wu Slips
  2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Wu, Three Kingdoms) (circa 235 AD (Jiahe era))
  3. Original Case: 吴简诸吏鞭杖案
  4. JudgesPan WanInstitutionsLinxiang MarquisateChangsha Commandery
  5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Law;Corporal Punishment;Zoumalou Wu Slips;Administrative Discipline
The Case of Zhu Biao Cutting Grain and Self-Surrender
  1. The Case of Zhu Biao Cutting Grain and Self-Surrender
  2. Jurisdiction: Wei State, China (c. 230 AD (Taihe era, Three Kingdoms period))
  3. Original Case: 朱表割米自首案
  4. DefendantsZhu BiaoJudgesGao RouInstitutionsTingwei Office of the Wei State
  5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Law;Self-Surrender System;Grain Embezzlement;Three Kingdoms Judiciary
The Case of Cao Hong's Retainer Offending Against the Law
  1. The Case of Cao Hong's Retainer Offending Against the Law
  2. Jurisdiction: Wei State, China (Three Kingdoms Period) (Circa 200 AD)
  3. Original Case: 曹洪门客犯法案
  4. DefendantsUnnamed Retainer of Cao HongInvestigatorsMan ChongProsecutorsMan ChongJudgesMan ChongInstitutionsCounty Office of Xuchang
  5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Law;Judicial Independence;Cao Hong;Man Chong
The Case of Dou Li's Murder Injustice
  1. The Case of Dou Li's Murder Injustice
  2. Jurisdiction: Cao Wei state, Three Kingdoms China (c. 227–239 AD (Cao Wei period))
  3. Original Case: Dou Li Bei Hai Yuan An
  4. VictimsDou LiDefendantsJiao ZiwenPlaintiffsYingInvestigatorsGao RouJudgesGao RouInstitutionsTingwei (Commandant of Justice)Imperial Guard Camp of Wei
  5. Case Tags: Wrongful Conviction;Murder;Judicial Investigation;Ancient Chinese Law
Case of Man Chong Interrogating Yang Biao
  1. Case of Man Chong Interrogating Yang Biao
  2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Han Dynasty) (197 AD)
  3. Original Case: 满宠考讯杨彪案
  4. VictimsYang BiaoPlaintiffsCao CaoInvestigatorsMan ChongDefense AttorneysKong RongXun YuJudgesMan ChongInstitutionsOffice of the Prefect of Xu
  5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Ancient Chinese Law;Three Kingdoms History;Judicial Torture
Case of Yang Qiu Executing Wang Fu
  1. Case of Yang Qiu Executing Wang Fu
  2. Jurisdiction: 东汉（中国） (光和二年（179年）)
  3. Original Case: 阳球诛王甫案
  4. Victims王甫Defendants王甫Plaintiffs阳球Investigators阳球Prosecutors阳球Judges阳球Institutions司隶校尉府
  5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Judicial Torture;Ancient Chinese Law;Imperial Court Case
The Case of Dong Xuan Executing Gongsun Dan and His Son
  1. The Case of Dong Xuan Executing Gongsun Dan and His Son
  2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (c. 43 AD (During the Jianwu Era of Emperor Guangwu))
  3. Original Case: 董宣诛公孙丹父子案
  4. VictimsGongsun DanSon of Gongsun DanDefendantsDong XuanPlaintiffsRelatives of Gongsun DanInvestigatorsDong XuanProsecutorsRelatives of Gongsun DanJudgesEmperor Guangwu of HanInstitutionsLuoyang County Government
  5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Ancient Chinese Law;Capital Punishment;Judicial Independence
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
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
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
Case of Jia Ji Ordering Xu Juju to Kill Yang Chufu
  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
The San Family Plate (San Shi Pan) Land Transfer Case
  1. The San Family Plate (San Shi Pan) Land Transfer Case
  2. Jurisdiction: Western Zhou Dynasty, China; the states of Ze and San, located in present-day Baoji, Shaanxi Province (Late Western Zhou period, approximately the reign of King Li (c. 857–842 BCE))
  3. Original Case: 散氏盘·夨国赔偿散氏土地移转案
  4. Key Figures: The state of Ze (夨国), the San lineage (散氏), and a royal overseer named Zhongnong (仲农) dispatched by the Zhou King
  5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Law;Land Property;Treaty and Covenant;Dispute Resolution History