Chinese Cases

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

1. Case of Convict Zai Tudou's Assault in Xiaogu

2. Jurisdiction: Xiaogu County, Dunhuang Commandery, Han Dynasty China (Western Han Dynasty, circa 1st century BCE)
3. Original Case: 效谷钳城旦宰土斗伤人案
4. Key Figures: Zai Tudou (defendant, a convict under qian chengdan punishment), Xiaogu County Magistrate Yu, Xiaogu County Assistant Shou
5. Case Tags: Assault and Battery;Prisoner Recidivism;Han Dynasty Criminal Law;Bamboo Slip Legal Records

1. Case of the Chained Chengdan Zhaoxuan's Wounding in a Fight and Unjust Judgment

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, Shu Commandery (modern Sichuan), China (Early Western Han, circa 186 BCE)
3. Original Case: 钳城旦昭宣斗伤人不直案
4. Key Figures: Zhaoxuan (the chained chengdan convict), the Magistrate of Shu Commandery, the Commandant of the Court (Tingwei)
5. Case Tags: Assault and Battery;Unjust Judgment;Recidivism Enhancement;Han Dynasty Legal System

1. The Case of Le Nu's 35-Mu Land Sale Contract in Changle Li

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (31 BC (2nd year of Jianshi, Emperor Cheng of Han))
3. Original Case: 长乐里乐奴田卅五畞买卖契约案
4. Key Figures: Le Nu (seller), unknown buyer, witnesses: Chunyu Ciru, Wang Chong, Zheng Shaoqing
5. Case Tags: Land Dispute;Contract Fraud;Unearthed Legal Document;Han Dynasty Property Law

1. Case of Debt Collection by Qing, Acting Assistant of the Juyan Arsenal

2. Jurisdiction: Juyan, Han Dynasty China (October, 1st year of Jianping (6 BCE))
3. Original Case: 居延库守丞庆收债文书案
4. Key Figures: Qing (Acting Assistant of the Juyan Arsenal), Xu Xu (a Platoon Chief/Suizhang)
5. Case Tags: Debt Recovery;Han Dynasty Law;Administrative Dispute;Bamboo Slip Documents

1. The Case of Shi Li Sun Meng's Debt Investigation

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Juyan Frontier Fortress, present-day Gansu Province) (Late 1st century BC, Western Han Dynasty (likely reign of Emperor Yuan, c. 48–33 BC))
3. Original Case: 士吏孙猛负钱验问案 (The Case of Investigating Shi Li Sun Meng's Debt)
4. Key Figures: Sun Meng (a Shi Li, junior frontier officer), an unnamed conscripted soldier (Zu) as creditor
5. Case Tags: Debt Dispute;Military Law;Official Misconduct;Han Dynasty Judicial Procedure (Yan Wen)

1. Yin Shang v. Xu Shengzhi (Debt Recovery Case)

2. Jurisdiction: Han Empire (Juyan Frontier Region, present-day Inner Mongolia/Gansu, China) (October 26, 60 BCE (Second Year of the Shenjue Reign, Western Han Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 尹赏自言责徐胜之欠钱案 (Yin Shang Zi Yan Ze Xu Shengzhi Qian An)
4. Key Figures: Yin Shang (plaintiff, a male resident of Nianzheng Village, Guanghan County); Xu Shengzhi (defendant, a conscript soldier at Juyan Commandery)
5. Case Tags: Debt Default (Statutory Crime);Juyan Wooden Slips;Self-Accusation Procedure;Han Dynasty Civil Law

1. Case of Jishan Watchtower Commander Zhou Xiang Borrowing Money from Le

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Juyan Region, Gansu Corridor) (Approximately 1st century BCE (Western Han Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 箕山燧长周相从乐贷钱案
4. Key Figures: Zhou Xiang (Jishan Watchtower Commander), Le (Creditor)
5. Case Tags: Debt Dispute;Breach of Contract;Official Misconduct;Economic Crime

1. Wang Yan Loan Sharking Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty, presumably under Emperor Wu or Emperor Xuan) (circa 100 BCE - 50 BCE (Western Han Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 王晏贷钱高利贷案
4. Key Figures: Wang Yan (creditor), unnamed debtor (farmer), local magistrate
5. Case Tags: Usury;Economic Crime;Debt Bondage;Exploitation of the Vulnerable

1. Case of the Waiting Official Guangde's Unauthorized Lending of Public Funds in the Fourth Year of Yuankang

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, Juyan Region (present-day Gansu Province, China) (62 BC (the fourth year of the Yuankang era, under Emperor Xuan of the Western Han))
3. Original Case: 元康四年候史广德贷钱案
4. Key Figures: Guangde (候史, an official in charge of patrol and logistics at the frontier)
5. Case Tags: Misappropriation of Public Funds;Malfeasance in Office;Administrative Violation;Western Han Frontier Judiciary

1. Case of Shi Robbing Yu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qin (present-day China) (246 BC (second year of King Zheng of Qin, later Qin Shi Huang))
3. Original Case: 识劫𡞔案
4. Key Figures: Shi (offender), Yu (female victim), judicial officials of Qin
5. Case Tags: Robbery;Extortion;Ancient Chinese Law;Qin Dynasty Judicial Review

1. Gui and Suo Conspiracy to Shift a Reward Case

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (Anlu County, Nan Commandery) (195 BC (12th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: Gui, Suo Xiang Yi Mou Gou An
4. Key Figures: Gui (constable of Anlu), Suo (crossbow commander of Anlu)
5. Case Tags: Fraud and Conspiracy;Han Dynasty Law;Reward Dispute;Zou Yan Shu Case

1. The Case of Zeng, Shun and Others Accepting and Giving Bribes to Pervert the Law

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Beidi Commandery, present-day northwestern China) (200 BCE (7th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han))
3. Original Case: 甑、顺等受、行賕枉法案
4. Key Figures: Zeng (甑, a woman), Shun (顺, a slave), and other involved parties
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Perverting Justice;Fugitive Registration;Zouyan System

1. The Case of Prison Scribe Ling Xian's Dereliction and Bribery

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China, Juyan County (present-day Gansu/Inner Mongolia border region) (c. 28 BCE (Late Western Han, during the reign of Emperor Cheng))
3. Original Case: Yushi Lingxian Shizhi Shouhui An
4. Key Figures: Ling Xian (prison scribe), Zhao (convict), Juyan County magistrate and judicial officers
5. Case Tags: Bribery;Dereliction of Duty;Prisoner Escape;Official Corruption

1. The Case of Pi Si Unjustly Sentenced to Chengdan

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (c. 200 BCE (Early Western Han Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 辟死不当为城旦案
4. Key Figures: Pi Si (辟死, the convict), Jiangling County Magistrate, Commandant of Justice (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Conviction;Criminal Appeal (Qiju);Han Dynasty Legal System;Forced Labor Penalty (Chengdan)

1. Case of Jing et al. Intentionally Releasing Offenders and Failing to Punish

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qin Dynasty, collected in Han Dynasty legal records) (218 BC (29th year of Qin Shi Huang))
3. Original Case: 敬等故纵弗论甾案
4. Key Figures: You Jing (攸㢑/敬) and other local officials; Ge Lu (盖庐), Zhi Tian (挚田), and Jian (瞗), judicial officers from Nan Commandery
5. Case Tags: Intentionally releasing criminals;Rebellion and treason;Official dereliction of duty;Qin-Han legal precedents

1. The Case of Ou Losing His Male Rank for Failure to Bow

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (Han Dynasty (c. 1st century BCE))
3. Original Case: 欧坐失拜男子爵案
4. Key Figures: Ou (the defendant, a commoner holding the "male" rank), the Commandant of the Court (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Rites and Law Integration;Disrespect (不敬);Deprivation of Noble Rank;Han Dynasty Legal System

1. The Case of Xu You's Desertion and Dereliction of Duty

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (200 AD (during the Battle of Guandu))
3. Original Case: 攸临阵脱逃、失职案
4. Key Figures: Xu You (许攸), Yuan Shao (袁绍), Shen Pei (审配)
5. Case Tags: Military Desertion;Dereliction of Duty;Treason;Ancient Military Law

1. Case of Yuan, Man, and Jin for Not Knowing the Yue Rebellion

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (c. 112 BC (Yuanding era, Emperor Wu of Han))
3. Original Case: 《榬、蛮、衿弗知越人反案》
4. Key Figures: Yuan (榬), Man (蛮), Jin (衿) – three local officials; Emperor Wu of Han; the Commandant of Justice (廷尉)
5. Case Tags: Rebellion-Related Strict Liability;Collective Implication;Emperor Wu's Cruel Officials;Salt and Iron Debate Critique

1. Case of Xing and Chang Knowing about Theft and Dividing Stolen Goods

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (circa 60 BC (Western Han, during the reign of Emperor Xuan))
3. Original Case: 猩、敞知盗分赃案
4. Key Figures: Xing (thief leader), Zhang Chang (Governor of Jingzhao)
5. Case Tags: Theft;Receiving Stolen Property;Conspiracy;Ancient Chinese Law

1. Case of Rui Illegally Selling Public Land

2. Jurisdiction: China (Han Dynasty) (Early Han Dynasty, circa 2nd century BC)
3. Original Case: 芮盗卖公列地案
4. Key Figures: Rui (the defendant, likely a local person); the buyer of the public land; local magistrate and judicial officials of the Han dynasty
5. Case Tags: Illegal Sale of Public Land;Embezzlement of State Property;Han Dynasty Legal System;Land Fraud