Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Marquis Zhao of Han Hiding a Worn-out Trousers

2. Jurisdiction: Han State, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC (during the reign of Marquis Zhao, 362–333 BC))
3. Original Case: 韩昭侯藏弊袴案
4. Key Figures: Marquis Zhao of Han (Han Zhaohou), palace attendants
5. Case Tags: Selective Reward;Legalist Governance;Sovereign Discretion;Symbolic Legislation

1. The Flogging of Fan Ju by Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: Wei State, Warring States Period, ancient China (c. 271 BC)
3. Original Case: 范雎被魏齐笞击案
4. Key Figures: Fan Ju (victim, later Chancellor of Qin), Wei Qi (Chancellor of Wei, perpetrator), Xu Jia (accuser, envoy of Wei), Zheng Anping (rescuer), Wang Ji (Qin envoy)
5. Case Tags: Torture;False Accusation;Extrajudicial Punishment;Revenge

1. The Case of Lord Xinling's Forged Execution of Jin Bi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (present-day Henan Province, China) and State of Zhao (257 BC)
3. Original Case: 信陵君矫杀晋鄙案
4. Key Figures: Lord Xinling (Wei Wuji), Jin Bi, King Anxi of Wei, Ru Ji, Hou Ying, Zhu Hai
5. Case Tags: Treason;Murder;Forgery of Royal Command;Usurpation of Military Authority

1. Li Kui's Fa Jing Legislation Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 403 BCE)
3. Original Case: Li Kui's Enactment of the Fa Jing (Canon of Laws)
4. Key Figures: Li Kui (Chancellor of Wei), Marquis Wen of Wei (Wei Wen Hou)
5. Case Tags: Theft and Robbery;Homicide and Violent Assault;Criminal Procedure;Legal Codification

1. The Case of Yu Qing Abandoning the Chancellorship to Save Wei Qi

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao State (Warring States China) (c. 259 BC (Late Warring States period))
3. Original Case: 虞卿弃相救魏齐案
4. Key Figures: Yu Qing (Prime Minister of Zhao), Wei Qi (Former Prime Minister of Wei), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng), Fan Ju (Prime Minister of Qin)
5. Case Tags: Harboring a Fugitive;Dereliction of Duty;Extradition Dispute;Breach of Allegiance

1. The Shaqiu Incident: Starvation of King Wuling of Zhao

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, Warring States China (295 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of King Wuling of Zhao Starved at Shaqiu
4. Key Figures: King Wuling of Zhao (Zhao Yong), King Huiwen of Zhao (Zhao He), Prince Zhang, Li Dui, Zhao Cheng, Fei Yi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Coup d'état;Unlawful Confinement;Treason

1. The Execution of Li Mu

2. Jurisdiction: Zhao State, China (Warring States Period) (229 BC)
3. Original Case: Case of Li Mu's Execution
4. Key Figures: Li Mu (General of Zhao), King Youmiu of Zhao (King Qian), Guo Kai (Corrupt Minister), Sima Shang (General), Zhao Cong (General), Yan Ju (General)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Political Frame-up;Summary Execution;Military Purge

1. The Case of Zhao She Executing Lord Pingyuan's Retainer

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zhao, China (Warring States period) (Circa 271 BC, during the reign of King Huiwen of Zhao)
3. Original Case: Zhao She Kills the Retainer of Lord Pingyuan
4. Key Figures: Zhao She (tax collector), Lord Pingyuan (Zhao Sheng, noble brother of the king), the steward (head retainer of Lord Pingyuan), King Huiwen of Zhao
5. Case Tags: Tax Evasion;Capital Punishment;Noble Privilege;Rule of Law

1. Sun Bin's Mutilation by Pang Juan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC)
3. Original Case: 孙膑被庞涓施膑刑案
4. Key Figures: Sun Bin, Pang Juan
5. Case Tags: Intentional Injury;Malicious False Accusation;Abuse of Power;Fratricidal Betrayal

1. The Case of Queen Dowager of Qi Installing Prince Jian according to Law

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States period, China (Around 265 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Queen of Qi Xiangwang Installing Her Son Jian by Law
4. Key Figures: Queen Dowager Junwang (consort of King Xiang of Qi), Prince Tian Jian (later King Jian of Qi), King Xiang of Qi (Tian Fazhang), opposing court ministers
5. Case Tags: Royal Inheritance Dispute;Primogeniture Law;Patriarchal Succession;Ancient Chinese Legal Case

1. Case of Wang Sunjia Executing Zhuo Chi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, China (Warring States Period) (284 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Wang Sun Jia Killing Zhuo Chi
4. Key Figures: Wang Sunjia (retainer of King Min of Qi), Zhuo Chi (general of Chu)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Vigilante Justice;Extrajudicial Killing;Loyalist Revenge

1. Case of King Wei of Qi Boiling the Magistrate of E and Rewarding the Magistrate of Jimo

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Warring States China (344 BC)
3. Original Case: Qi Wei Wang Peng E Shang Jimo An
4. Key Figures: King Wei of Qi, Magistrate of Jimo, Magistrate of E, courtiers and attendants of King Wei
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Defamation;Judicial Corruption;Capital Punishment

1. The Assassination of Lord Chunshen

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (238 BC)
3. Original Case: 春申君被刺案
4. Key Figures: Lord Chunshen (Huang Xie), Li Yuan, Li Yan (Queen Dowager), King Kaolie of Chu, King You of Chu
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Palace Coup;Usurpation;Conspiracy

1. The Case of Qu Yuan's Exile

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (present-day Hubei and Hunan provinces) (circa 304 BC (first exile); circa 296 BC (second exile))
3. Original Case: 屈原流放案
4. Key Figures: Qu Yuan (屈原), King Huai of Chu (楚怀王), Shangguan Dafu (上官大夫), Jin Shang (靳尚), King Qingxiang of Chu (楚顷襄王)
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Defamation and False Accusation;Abuse of Royal Power;Miscarriage of Justice

1. The Case of Shi She Releasing His Father and Committing Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Warring States period) (circa 500 BCE (Spring and Autumn period transition to Warring States, traditionally rendered within Warring States narratives))
3. Original Case: 石奢纵父自刎案
4. Key Figures: Shi She (石奢, Prime Minister of Chu), King Zhao of Chu (楚昭王), Shi She's father (unidentified murderer)
5. Case Tags: Filial Piety versus Rule of Law;Concealment of Homicide by Public Official;Self-Immolation of a Magistrate;Confucian Moral Dilemma in Criminal Justice

1. The Murder of Wu Qi and the Execution of the Corpse-Shooters by King Su

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States period, Ancient China (381 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴起被害及肃王诛射尸者案
4. Key Figures: Wu Qi (reformer); King Dao of Chu; King Su of Chu; Chu aristocrats (including shooters like members of the Yangcheng and other noble clans)
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Lèse-majesté (Desecration of Royal Remains);Collective Punishment by Clan Extermination;Political Purge

1. Case of Shu Qing Homicide

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States period, State of Qin) (circa 338 BCE)
3. Original Case: 舒庆杀人案
4. Key Figures: Shu Qing (defendant/forensic physician), Qin Huiwen Wang (victim, King of Qin)
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Forensic Medicine;Regicide;Legal History

1. Case of Zuo Sima Shi v. Chen Fu over Farmland

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Warring States China (present-day Jingmen, Hubei Province) (circa 322 BCE (during the reign of King Huai of Chu))
3. Original Case: 左司马适与陈弗讼田案
4. Key Figures: Zuo Sima Shi (左司马适, a military official); Chen Fu (陈弗, a commoner)
5. Case Tags: Property Dispute;Land Usurpation;Judicial Precedent;Ancient Legal Procedure

1. The Case of Fan Ju's Guarantor Collective Punishment

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin (Warring States China) (257 BC)
3. Original Case: 范雎保任连坐案
4. Key Figures: Fan Ju (Fan Sui), King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Zheng Anping, Wang Ji
5. Case Tags: Guarantor Liability;Collective Punishment;Treason by Surrender;Royal Immunity

1. The Case of King Zhaoxiang of Qin Ordering Bai Qi to Commit Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States Period, Ancient China (257 BC (50th year of King Zhaoxiang's reign, 11th month))
3. Original Case: 秦昭王赐死白起案
4. Key Figures: King Zhaoxiang of Qin (Ying Ji), Bai Qi (Lord Wu'an), Fan Ju (Marquis Ying)
5. Case Tags: Ancient Military Insubordination;Political Purge;Forced Suicide of a General;Capital Punishment in Warring States