Case of the Adulterous Woman of Qi: Nai Punishment and Caning by Qin Gonggu

During the Han Dynasty in the Qi region, a married woman was accused of committing adultery. The case was brought before local magistrate Qin Gonggu, who conducted the investigation and presided over the trial. According to Han statutes, the woman was found guilty and sentenced to nai (a punishment involving shaving of the head or beard) and caning. The case derived its distinctive name from the combination of the location (Qi), the crime (adultery), the punishment (nai and caning), and the presiding official (Qin Gonggu) who also utilized the judicial drum to announce proceedings. The woman attempted to appeal by striking the grievance drum, but the original verdict was upheld. The proceeding illustrates the strict moral and legal codes imposed on women, as well as the procedural elements of Han justice.

The woman from Qi was convicted of adultery, sentenced to nai, and subjected to a specified number of caning strokes. The conviction and punishment were affirmed after the appeal was denied by Qin Gonggu.

The main disputes centered on whether the adultery accusation was sufficiently proven by witness testimony, and whether the combined punishment of nai (mutilating hair punishment) and severe caning was proportional to the offence under Han statutes. The woman's appeal also raised questions about the magistrate's handling of drum-hearing procedures.

The case highlighted the harsh patriarchal legal framework of the Han Dynasty, reinforcing strict controls on female sexuality. It served as a deterrent example in local communities and contributed to discussions among legal officials regarding proportionality in punishment and the accessibility of judicial review through the drum-hearing system.