Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Shang Yang Being Denied Lodging While Fleeing

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (338 BC)
3. Original Case: Case of Shang Yang Fleeing and Being Refused Board at an Inn
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (Lord Shang), the Innkeeper, King Huiwen of Qin
5. Case Tags: Legal Irony;Strict Legalism;Political Persecution;Collective Punishment

1. The Case of Shang Yang Punishing Prince Qian and Tattooing Gongsun Jia

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (Warring States Period) (c. 355 BC)
3. Original Case: 商鞅刑公子虔、黥公孙贾案
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (Wei Yang), Prince Qian (Gongzi Qian), Gongsun Jia, Crown Prince Si (later King Huiwen of Qin), Duke Xiao of Qin
5. Case Tags: Legalist Reform;Corporal Punishment;Punishment of Nobility;Facial Tattooing Penalty

1. Case of Fugitive Slaves Surrendering

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (circa 4th–3rd century BCE)
3. Original Case: 隶臣妾逃亡自出案
4. Key Figures: Li chen and li qie (male and female official slaves under state bondage)
5. Case Tags: slave escape;voluntary surrender;Qin law;corporal punishment

1. The Case of Burglary into A's House

2. Jurisdiction: China (Warring States period, State of Qin) (circa 3rd century BC)
3. Original Case: 贼入甲室案
4. Key Figures: A (the victim), the burglar, the neighbors (四邻), the neighborhood heads (典, 老)
5. Case Tags: Home Invasion;Mutual Surveillance System;Legal Duty to Rescue;Qin Dynasty Law

1. The Case of the Accusation of an Unfilial Son

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (Warring States period, circa 3rd century BCE)
3. Original Case: 告子不孝案
4. Key Figures: Father: Shi Wu Jia (士伍甲); Son: Bing (丙)
5. Case Tags: Filial Piety Law;Capital Punishment;Parental Authority;Pre-Qin Legal System

1. The Head-Seizing Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (Warring States Period) (Around 356 BC)
3. Original Case: Duoshou An (夺首案)
4. Key Figures: Shang Yang (judge), Two Qin soldiers
5. Case Tags: Military Merit Law;Private Fight Punishment;Legalist Reform;Evidence-Based Judgment

1. Battle of Boju and Nang Wa's Flight to Zheng Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu and State of Wu (Spring and Autumn period China) (506 BC)
3. Original Case: 吴楚柏举之战、囊瓦奔郑案
4. Key Figures: Nang Wa (Zichang, Chief Minister of Chu), King Zhao of Chu, King Helü of Wu, Wu Zixu, Sun Wu
5. Case Tags: Treason;Desertion in Battle;Dereliction of Command;War Crimes (ancient context)

1. The Case of Mao Falsely Accusing Jiang of Cattle Theft

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, China (245 BCE (2nd year of King Zheng of Qin, late Warring States period))
3. Original Case: 毛诬讲盗牛案
4. Key Figures: Mao (毛), Jiang (讲)
5. Case Tags: False Accusation;Retaliatory Punishment;Judicial Torture;Qin Legal System

1. The Case of the Husband Stealing Money and the Wife Concealing It

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin, Warring States China (circa 4th century BC - 3rd century BC)
3. Original Case: 夫盗钱妻匿案
4. Key Figures: Husband (unnamed thief), Wife (unnamed concealer)
5. Case Tags: Spousal Privilege;Concealment of Stolen Property;Pre-Qin Legalism;Joint Liability

1. The Case of Ji's Negligent Misconduct in Office

2. Jurisdiction: Qin State, Warring States China (225 BCE)
3. Original Case: 暨过误失坐官案
4. Key Figures: Ji (the accused petty official), the Jiangling County court, Qin appellate authorities
5. Case Tags: Criminal Negligence;Official Malfeasance;Qin Legal System;Judicial Appeal

1. Case of Duchess Nanzi's Licentiousness and Crown Prince Kuaikui's Attempted Assassination Leading to Exile

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (Spring and Autumn period China) (496 BC)
3. Original Case: 卫灵公夫人南子淫乱、太子蒯聩欲杀之不成奔宋案
4. Key Figures: Nanzi (Duchess of Wei), Kuaikui (Crown Prince of Wei, later Duke Zhuang of Wei), Duke Ling of Wei, Song Chao (lover of Nanzi, noble from Song), Xi Yangsu (retainer of Kuaikui)
5. Case Tags: Attempted Assassination;Political Conspiracy;Royal Scandal;Exile

1. Case of Zhao Yang Killing Handan Wu and the Attack on the Zhao Clan by Xun Yin and Shi Jishe

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin (present-day China) (497 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋赵鞅杀邯郸午、荀寅士吉射攻赵氏案
4. Key Figures: Zhao Yang (Zhao Jianzi), Handan Wu (Zhao Wu), Xun Yin (Zhonghang Wenzi), Shi Jishe (Fan Zhaozi), Duke Ding of Jin, Zhao Ji, She Bin, clans of Han, Wei, and Zhi
5. Case Tags: Political Assassination;Clan Rebellion;Feudal Treason;Noble Usurpation

1. The Case of Confucius Assisting at Jiagu and Qi Returning Wenyang Land to Lu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Lu and State of Qi (Spring and Autumn Period, Ancient China) (500 BC (10th year of Duke Ding of Lu))
3. Original Case: 孔子相夹谷、齐人归鲁汶阳之田案
4. Key Figures: Confucius (Kong Qiu), Duke Ding of Lu, Duke Jing of Qi, Li Chu (Qi minister)
5. Case Tags: Diplomatic Coercion;Treaty Breach;Restorative Justice;Boundary Dispute

1. The Case of King Zhao of Chu Restoring the State and Yuxin Refusing the Reward and Surrendering Himself

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (circa 505 BCE)
3. Original Case: 楚昭王复国、鬻辛不受王赏自拘案
4. Key Figures: King Zhao of Chu, Yuxin
5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Case;Self-imposed Custody;Loyalty and Ritual Propriety;Conflict of Law and Clan Honor

1. The Case of Marquis Zhao of Cai Being Detained for Three Years, Released, and Then Seeking Jin's Aid to Attack Chu, Where Jin Official Xun Yin Demanded Bribes and Refused Cai's Request

2. Jurisdiction: China (Spring and Autumn Period, States of Cai, Chu, and Jin) (507 BC - 506 BC)
3. Original Case: 蔡昭侯被执三年释归、如晋请伐楚、晋荀寅求货弗得辞蔡侯案
4. Key Figures: Marquis Zhao of Cai, Xun Yin (Minister of Jin), King Zhao of Chu, Nang Wa (Lingyin of Chu)
5. Case Tags: Extortion;Abuse of Power;Diplomatic Immunity Violation;State Sovereignty Breach

1. Case of Wei Shu of Jin Assembling Feudal Lords' Ministers to Fortify Chengzhou, with Zhong Ji of Song Refusing the Labor Assignment, and Jin's Detention of Zhong Ji to the Capital

2. Jurisdiction: China (Zhou Dynasty, involving the States of Jin and Song, and the Eastern Zhou royal domain at Chengzhou) (509 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋魏舒合诸侯之大夫城成周、宋仲几不受功、晋人执仲几归京师案
4. Key Figures: Wei Shu (Wei Xianzi), the chief minister of the State of Jin; Zhong Ji, a senior official of the State of Song
5. Case Tags: Corvée Labor Dispute;Hegemon's Judicial Overreach;Extradition to Royal Court;Feudal Obligation Controversy

1. Case of Zhao Yang and Xun Yin Casting the Penal Tripod and Inscribing Fan Xuanzi's Penal Code

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, Spring and Autumn Period, China (513 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋赵鞅、荀寅铸刑鼎、著范宣子刑书案
4. Key Figures: Zhao Yang (赵鞅, also known as Jianzi of Zhao), Xun Yin (荀寅), Fan Xuanzi (范宣子), Confucius (孔子), Cai Shimo (蔡史墨)
5. Case Tags: Publication of Written Law;Conflict between Ritual and Law;Challenge to Aristocratic Privileges;Legal Publicity

1. Case of Chu Lingyin Zichang Executing Fei Wuji and Yan Jiangshi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu (Spring and Autumn period China) (515 BC (27th year of Duke Zhao of Lu, September))
3. Original Case: 楚令尹子常诛费无极、鄢将师案
4. Key Figures: Fei Wuji, Yan Jiangshi, Lingyin Zichang (Nang Wa), Shen Yinxu
5. Case Tags: Treason;Clan Extermination;Political Purge;Mob Justice

1. The Case of the Cockfight between Ji Pingzi and Hou Zhaobo and Duke Zhao's Attack on the Ji Clan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Lu (517 BC)
3. Original Case: 季平子与郈昭伯斗鸡、昭公伐季氏案
4. Key Figures: Ji Pingzi (Jisun Yiru), Hou Zhaobo (Hou Sun), Duke Zhao of Lu, Shusun Clan, Mengsun Clan, Zang Clan
5. Case Tags: Aristocratic Armed Conflict;Political Rebellion against the Ducal House;Expulsion of the Reigning Monarch;Usurpation of State Power by a Ministerial Clan

1. The Case of Chu Prime Minister Nang Wa Detaining Tang Chenggong and Cai Zhaohou for Bribery

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Spring and Autumn Period, ancient China (c. 507–506 BC)
3. Original Case: 楚令尹囊瓦执唐成公、蔡昭侯索贿案
4. Key Figures: Nang Wa (Zichang), Chief Minister of Chu; Tang Chenggong, Duke of Tang; Cai Zhaohou, Marquis of Cai
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Abuse of Power;False Imprisonment;Extortion