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

In 541 BC in the State of Zheng, the noble Xu Wufan's sister was sought in marriage by two aristocrats: Zinan (Gongsun Chu) and Zixi (Gongsun Hei). Zinan had already been betrothed to her, but Zixi forcefully presented betrothal gifts. Fearing conflict, Xu Wufan consulted the chief minister Zichan, who advised letting the sister choose. The sister chose Zinan after witnessing a display where Zinan demonstrated martial prowess while Zixi showed off fine attire and rhetoric. Angered, Zixi later attempted to assassinate Zinan with armed retainers; Zinan defended himself and wounded Zixi with a dagger-axe. Zichan adjudicated the case, declaring that although both had justifications, the younger and lower-ranked Zinan was guilty, citing the principle "When claims are equal, the younger and baser is at fault." Zinan was banished to the state of Wu.

Zichan ruled that Zinan was guilty and exiled him to the state of Wu, reasoning that when the rights of the parties are equal, the younger and socially inferior one bears the blame.

The legitimacy of a woman's right to choose her spouse in a patriarchal clan society, and the application of status-based criminal principles where the younger and lower-ranked party is held liable despite acting in self-defense during a marriage feud.

The case illustrated the tension between individual mate choice and rigid clan hierarchy in the Spring and Autumn period. Zichan's ruling reinforced noble rank order while marginally acknowledging female agency. Recorded in the Zuo Tradition, it became a classic reference for later legal and ethical debates on equity, seniority, and the limits of self-defense among aristocrats.