Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Prison Officer Lan Fornicating with the Hidden Woman Nan

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (August, 200 BCE (the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: 狱史阑奸匿女子南案
4. Key Figures: Prison Officer Lan (狱史阑), Woman Nan (女子南, a fugitive from Zhao), Jiangling County Magistrate (江陵丞), Commandant of Jiangling (江陵守), Chief Prosecutor (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Sexual Assault by a Public Official;Abuse of Authority;Concealment of a Fugitive;Han Dynasty Criminal Law

1. Tian and Shi Adultery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China, Han Dynasty (c. 200 BCE (early Western Han))
3. Original Case: 田与市和奸案
4. Key Figures: Tian (male) and Shi (female)
5. Case Tags: Adultery;Consensual Illicit Intercourse;Criminal Procedure;Evidence Law

1. Case of Kong Stabbing the Maidservant for Stealing Money

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Han Dynasty (circa 2nd century BC), exact year unknown)
3. Original Case: 孔刺伤女子婢盗取钱案
4. Key Figures: Kong (husband), Kong's wife (the accused), the maidservant of Kong, Dong Zhongshu (the adjudicator)
5. Case Tags: Spring and Autumn Adjudication;Confucian Ethics in Law;Master-Servant Relationship;Justifiable Discipline

1. The Case of Liyang Magistrate Hui Stealing Official Rice

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Liyang County, under the jurisdiction of the Commandant of the Judiciary) (200 BC (7th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: 醴阳令恢盗县官米案
4. Key Figures: Hui (恢), Magistrate of Liyang, holder of the noble rank "Right Chief of the Masses" (右庶长); Judicial officer Yu of Jiangling (江陵余); Officials involved in interrogation
5. Case Tags: Theft by a Custodial Official;Embezzlement of Public Grain;Official Corruption;Han Dynasty Criminal Law

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

1. The Succession Dispute between Han Jiu and Ji Se

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States China (circa 300 BC)
3. Original Case: 韩咎与几瑟争立案
4. Key Figures: Han Jiu (Prince Jiu), Ji Se (Prince Ji Se), King Xiang of Han, Gong Shu, Queen Dowager, Su Dai, and other court officials
5. Case Tags: Treason;Usurpation;Sedition;Exile

1. King Yan Zhao's Purge of Zizhi's Faction

2. Jurisdiction: Yan State, Warring States China (circa 314-311 BC)
3. Original Case: 燕昭王诛子之党羽案
4. Key Figures: King Yan Zhao (Ji Ping), Zizhi, King Kuai of Yan, Su Dai, Lu Maotou, General Shi Bei, Prince Ping
5. Case Tags: Political Rebellion;Treason;Usurpation of the Throne;Mass Execution

1. The Case of King Qian of Zhao Dismissing Li Mu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, Warring States China (c. 229 BC)
3. Original Case: 赵王迁罢李牧案（增补）
4. Key Figures: King Qian of Zhao, Li Mu (General), Guo Kai (Corrupt Minister), Qin Spies
5. Case Tags: Treason;Capital Offense;Conspiracy;Political Purge

1. The Case of Yu Qing Renouncing Office to Rescue Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States Period - States of Zhao, Wei, Qin) (ca. 265 BC)
3. Original Case: 虞卿弃相救魏齐案
4. Key Figures: Yu Qing (Minister of Zhao), Wei Qi (Former Chancellor of Wei), Fan Ju (Chancellor of Qin), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng)
5. Case Tags: Harboring a Fugitive;Revenge;Political Persecution;Righteous Defiance

1. Case of Wei Chancellor Zhai Qiang's Death and Prince Jin's Contention for the Chancellorship

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (Circa 310 BCE)
3. Original Case: 魏相翟强死、公子劲争相案
4. Key Figures: Zhai Qiang (deceased chancellor), Prince Jin of Wei (contender), Gan Mao (Qin general backing Prince Jin), King Huai of Chu (foreign supporter), other Wei princes and nobles
5. Case Tags: political succession crime;foreign interference in internal affairs;court factional strife;ancient Chinese customary law

1. Queen Dowager Xuan's Argument on Assisting Han Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin and State of Han, Warring States China (Around 300 BC)
3. Original Case: 宣太后论佐韩有利案
4. Key Figures: Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin, King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Shang Jin (Han envoy), Gan Mao (Qin minister), Zhang Cui (Han envoy)
5. Case Tags: National Security Decision;Alliance and Treaty Obligation;State Interest Assessment;Strategic Intervention Debate

1. The Case of Lin Xiangru Returning the Jade Intact and the Qin-Zhao Dispute at Mianchi

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao and Qin states, Warring States China (283 BC (Heshibi incident) and 279 BC (Mianchi meeting))
3. Original Case: 蔺相如完璧归赵、渑池会秦赵争讼案
4. Key Figures: Lin Xiangru (Zhao envoy), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Huiwen of Zhao, Lian Po (Zhao general)
5. Case Tags: Attempted Theft of National Treasure;Insult and Coercion of a Foreign Head of State;Breach of Diplomatic Protocol and Good Faith;Conspiracy to Commit Territorial Encroachment

1. Case of Lord Mengchang Imprisoned in Qin

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (present-day Shaanxi) (circa 299 BC)
3. Original Case: 孟尝君被囚于秦案
4. Key Figures: Lord Mengchang (Tian Wen), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Mengchang's retainers (including a dog-mimic thief and a cock-crow imitator), the king's favorite concubine
5. Case Tags: False Imprisonment;Political Persecution;Escape from Custody;Abuse of Power

1. The Case of King Huai of Chu's Luring, Detention, and Death in Qin

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu and State of Qin (Warring States China) (299 BC – 296 BC)
3. Original Case: 楚怀王被诱执、客死于秦案
4. Key Figures: King Huai of Chu (Xiong Huai), King Zhaoxiang of Qin (Ying Ji), Zi Lan (Prince of Chu)
5. Case Tags: State Hostage-Taking;Diplomatic Deception;Breach of Safe Conduct;Abduction of a Sovereign

1. Zou Ji's Law Enforcement and Supervision of Treacherous Officials Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States China (circa 357 BC)
3. Original Case: 邹忌谨修法律督奸吏案
4. Key Figures: Zou Ji (Prime Minister), King Wei of Qi, unnamed corrupt officials
5. Case Tags: Anti-Corruption and Bribery;Abuse of Power by Public Officials;Judicial Reform and Due Process;Defamation and Political Purge

1. Shen Buhai Upholds the Law Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States China (战国韩国) (c. 350 BC (约公元前350年))
3. Original Case: 申不害循法以治案
4. Key Figures: Shen Buhai (申不害), Marquis Zhao of Han (韩昭侯)
5. Case Tags: Seeking Official Post Through Favoritism;Merit-Based Appointment System;Legalist Impartiality;Self-Admission and Apology

1. Wu Qi's Enforcement of Law by Clarifying Decrees

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (c. 386-381 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴起明法审令执法案
4. Key Figures: Wu Qi (Military Commander and Reformer), King Dao of Chu, Offending Chu Aristocrat
5. Case Tags: Reform and Punishment;Enforcement of Law;Nobility Prosecution;Rule of Law

1. Li Kui's "Book of Law" Judicial Heritage Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 400 BCE)
3. Original Case: 李悝《法经》司法传承案
4. Key Figures: Li Kui (李悝), Marquis Wen of Wei (魏文侯), Shang Yang (商鞅), later Legalist scholars
5. Case Tags: Legal Codification;Legalist Philosophy;Judicial Precedent;Intellectual Property-like Dispute

1. King Zhao of Yan's Purge After the Rebellion of Zizhi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Yan, Warring States China (circa 311 BC)
3. Original Case: 子之之乱后燕昭王清算案
4. Key Figures: King Zhao of Yan (Ji Ping), Zizhi, King Kuai of Yan, Prince Ping
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Treason;Regicide;Post-War Retribution

1. The Case of Shen Buhai Requesting an Official Position for His Brother Being Rejected

2. Jurisdiction: State of Han, Warring States period, ancient China (circa 350 BC)
3. Original Case: 申不害为兄请官被拒案
4. Key Figures: Shen Buhai, King Zhaohou of Han, Shen Buhai's elder brother
5. Case Tags: Nepotism;Legalism;Conflict of Interest;Rule of Law