Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Li Jian and Jing Zhang's Land Dispute

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Han Dynasty)
3. Original Case: 李建与精张诤田案
4. DefendantsJing ZhangPlaintiffsLi JianJudgesLocal Han Dynasty MagistrateInstitutionsHan Dynasty County Tribunal
5. Case Tags: Land Dispute;Han Dynasty Law;Property Rights;Ancient Civil Litigation

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

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty, Qi region, present-day Shandong) (Han Dynasty, circa 2nd century BC)
3. Original Case: 女子齐通耐责秦恭鼓案
4. VictimsUnnamed HusbandDefendantsWoman from QiPlaintiffsUnnamed HusbandInvestigatorsQin GongguJudgesQin GongguInstitutionsQi Commandery Office
5. Case Tags: Adultery;Corporal Punishment;Han Dynasty Law;Women's Legal Status

1. Case of Hou Yong Causing the Death of Jue Ba

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE))
3. Original Case: 候永致放駃罢死案
4. VictimsJue BaDefendantsHou Yong
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Han Dynasty Law;Criminal Liability;Historical Chinese Case

1. 隧长焦永死驹劾状案

2. Jurisdiction: 汉代中国（居延地区，今内蒙古额济纳旗） (建武三年十二月辛未（公元27年12月19日）)
3. Original Case: 隧长焦永死驹劾状
4. Defendants焦永Plaintiffs甲渠候官Investigators宫Prosecutors甲渠候官Judges居延都尉府Institutions甲渠候官居延都尉府都乡
5. Case Tags: 官马驹死亡案;劾状制度;过失损毁官物;居延汉简法律

1. 候粟君责寇恩钱案

2. Jurisdiction: 汉代中国，居延地区（今甘肃北部至内蒙古额济纳旗一带） (汉代（约公元前1世纪至公元1世纪）)
3. Original Case: 候粟君所责寇恩事
4. Defendants寇恩Plaintiffs候粟君Institutions居延县廷
5. Status or Result: 居延县廷经审理后认定寇恩不欠候粟君钱财，驳回候粟君的诉讼请求。
6. Case Tags: 债务纠纷;汉代司法;居延汉简;证据裁判

1. 严延年案

2. Jurisdiction: 中国（汉代） (西汉神爵四年（公元前58年）)
3. Defendants严延年Plaintiffs义Judges汉宣帝 刘询Institutions廷尉府
4. Status or Result: 被判定“大逆不道”之罪，在闹市执行死刑并暴尸街头（弃市）。
5. Case Tags: 汉代酷吏;大逆不道;屠伯;中国法律史

1. Case of Yi Zong

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (117 BC)
3. Original Case: 义纵案
4. Key Figures: Yi Zong (义纵), Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝)
5. Case Tags: Historical Case;Political Crime;Capital Offense;Abuse of Power

1. Case of Wang Wenshu

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (104 BC)
3. Original Case: 王温舒案
4. Key Figures: Wang Wenshu (王温舒), Emperor Wu of Han (汉武帝)
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Corruption;Collective Punishment;Han Dynasty Cruel Officials

1. The Case of Zhi Du Exterminating the Kan Clan of Jinan

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (c. 150 BC (during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han))
3. Original Case: 郅都灭济南阚氏豪强案
4. Key Figures: Zhi Du (郅都), the Kan (阚) clan of Jinan
5. Case Tags: Clan Extermination;Cruel Officials;Local Bully Suppression;Han Dynasty Law Enforcement

1. The Case of Zhang Shizhi Judging the Theft of the Jade Ring from Gaozu's Temple

2. Jurisdiction: Western Han Dynasty, China (Chang'an) (Reign of Emperor Wen of Han (c. 180–157 BC))
3. Original Case: 张释之判盗高庙玉环案
4. Key Figures: Zhang Shizhi (Commandant of Justice), Emperor Wen of Han (Liu Heng), the anonymous thief, Empress Dowager Bo
5. Case Tags: Theft of Imperial Property;Sacrilege and Temple Desecration;Capital Punishment;Judicial Independence

1. The Case of Zhang Shizhi Impeaching the Crown Prince

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (circa 177 BCE (during the early reign of Emperor Wen))
3. Original Case: 张释之弹劾太子案
4. Key Figures: Zhang Shizhi (廷尉, Commandant of Justice), Emperor Wen of Han (汉文帝), Crown Prince Liu Qi (太子刘启), Prince Liu Wu of Liang (梁王刘武), Empress Dowager Bo (薄太后)
5. Case Tags: Lèse-majesté;Judicial Independence;Contempt of the Imperial Court;Equality Before the Law

1. The Case of Zhang Shizhi Trying the Offender of Violating the Imperial Passageway

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han (circa 177 BC))
3. Original Case: 张释之审断犯跸案
4. Key Figures: Zhang Shizhi (廷尉), Emperor Wen of Han (汉文帝), an unknown commoner
5. Case Tags: Contempt of the Emperor;Violation of Imperial Passageway (犯跸);Judicial Independence;Rule of Law in Ancient China

1. The Case of Zhang Tang, a Man of Longxi, Who Cursed and Caned His Master

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China, Longxi Commandery (present-day Gansu Province) (circa 120s BCE (during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han))
3. Original Case: 陇西男子张汤骂詈杖主案
4. Key Figures: Zhang Tang (张汤), a male resident of Longxi Commandery; His unnamed master
5. Case Tags: Mao Li (骂詈) - Verbal Abuse of a Superior;Ou Zhu (殴主) - Assault and Battery upon a Master;Yi Xia Fan Shang (以下犯上) - Insubordination by an Inferior against a Superior;Bu Dao (不道) - Gross Violation of Social and Moral Order

1. The Case of Tian Xuan, the Sefu of Dongxiang, Chang'an, Assaulting the Cane Master

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China, Chang'an (circa 200 BCE (early Western Han))
3. Original Case: 长安东乡啬夫田宣殴杖主案
4. Key Figures: Tian Xuan (the Sefu of Dongxiang), Zhang Zhu (the Cane Master)
5. Case Tags: Assault with a Weapon;Official Misconduct;Han Dynasty Criminal Law;Violence by Local Official

1. The Case of the Nan Commandery Tingzhang Assaulting a Staff-wielder

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China, Nan Commandery (Han Dynasty (likely early, preserved in the Book of Submitted Doubtful Cases))
3. Original Case: 南郡亭长护欧杖主案
4. Key Figures: Tingzhang Hu (亭长护), Staff-wielder (杖主)
5. Case Tags: Assault;Judicial Assault;Abuse of Official Power;Obstruction of Official Duties

1. The Case of Wang Anshi of Runan Assaulting the Holder of a Wang Staff

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Runan Commandery) (Early Eastern Han Dynasty, c. 1st century CE (likely during the reign of Emperor Guangwu))
3. Original Case: 汝南王安世殴击杖主案
4. Key Figures: Wang Anshi (a man from Runan Commandery), an elderly holder of the imperial Wang Staff (鸠杖)
5. Case Tags: Assault on a Protected Person;Capital Offense (Grave Impiety);Elder Protection Law;Wang Staff (鸠杖) Privilege

1. Case of Zhang Ao, Bailiuting Chief of Yunyang, Assaulting and Insulting a Royal Scepter Holder

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Western Han Dynasty, likely during the reign of Emperor Cheng (circa 32-7 BCE))
3. Original Case: 云阳白水亭长张熬殴辱王杖主案
4. Key Figures: Zhang Ao (Bailiuting Chief), Wang Zhangzhu (Royal Scepter Holder, an elderly man)
5. Case Tags: Elder Abuse;Official Misconduct;Violation of Imperial Decree;Aggravated Assault

1. Case of Garrison Soldier Zhuang Qiangyou and Others Falsifying Asset Testimony

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty, Juyan Frontier Command) (Han Dynasty, circa 1st century CE)
3. Original Case: Shuzu Zhuang Qiangyou Deng Zheng Caiwu Bu Yi Shi An
4. Key Figures: Zhuang Qiangyou (a garrison soldier) and other garrison soldiers
5. Case Tags: Perjury;False Declaration of Assets;Military Law;Han Dynasty Legal System

1. The Case of Hanling, a Dunhuang Woman, Returning Private Goods on Her Husband's Behalf

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Dunhuang Commandery, present-day Gansu) (Late Western Han Dynasty, circa 1st century BCE)
3. Original Case: 敦煌女子邯陵替夫退还持私案
4. Key Figures: Hanling (a woman from Dunhuang), Zun (her husband, a Dafu rank holder from Chiyang), local officials of Dunhuang Commandery
5. Case Tags: Property Misappropriation;Women's Legal Capacity;Han Civil Procedure;Family Property Dispute

1. Case of Chang'an Magistrate An Guo Issuing an Order to Arrest Fugitives

2. Jurisdiction: Chang'an, Western Han Dynasty, China (Western Han Dynasty (exact year unknown, circa 1st century BCE))
3. Original Case: 长安令安国移书捕亡案
4. Key Figures: An Guo (magistrate of Chang'an), the anonymous accuser (a personal enemy of the accused), the accused person (name unknown), the wife of the accused
5. Case Tags: Anonymous Letter Accusation;False Accusation (Wuku);Arrest of Innocent Family Members;Judicial Investigation of Malicious Prosecution