Chinese Cases

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

1. The Case of Feng Juan's Exile for Requesting a Sacrificial Hunt

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, Spring and Autumn Period, Ancient China (543 BC)
3. Original Case: Zheng Feng Juan Jiang Ji Qing Tian Bei Zhu An (The Case of Feng Juan Being Banished for Requesting a Hunt Before a Sacrifice)
4. Key Figures: Feng Juan (Zi Zhang), Zi Chan (Gongsun Qiao), Zi Pi (Han Hu)
5. Case Tags: Ritual Protocol Violation;Attempted Armed Insurrection;Banishment;Political Pardon

1. Zi Chan's Refusal to Destroy the Village Schools

2. Jurisdiction: Zheng State, Spring and Autumn China (542 BCE)
3. Original Case: 郑子产不毁乡校案
4. Key Figures: Zi Chan (Gongsun Qiao), Ran Ming (Zong Mie)
5. Case Tags: Sedition;Defamation of Government;Unlawful Assembly;Suppression of Free Speech

1. Case of Qing Feng's Arrogance and the Plot of Lu Pugui and Wang He Against the Qing Clan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi (Ancient China) (545 BC)
3. Original Case: 齐庆封骄纵、卢蒲癸王何谋讨庆氏案
4. Key Figures: Qing Feng, Lu Pugui, Wang He, Qing She
5. Case Tags: Usurpation of Authority;Assassination;Insurrection;Political Conspiracy

1. The Revenge Assassination of Duke Yi of Qi by Bing Chu and Yan Zhi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi (齐国), Spring and Autumn China (Summer, 609 BC)
3. Original Case: 邴歜、阎职弑齐懿公复仇案
4. Key Figures: Bing Chu (邴歜), Yan Zhi (阎职), Duke Yi of Qi (齐懿公)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Revenge Killing;Political Assassination;Usurpation and Conspiracy

1. The Case of Duke Xiang of Zheng's Surrender to King Zhuang of Chu and the King's Clemency

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng and State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (597 BCE)
3. Original Case: 郑伯肉袒牵羊降楚、楚庄王舍郑案
4. Key Figures: Duke Xiang of Zheng (Zheng Bo) and King Zhuang of Chu
5. Case Tags: War of Aggression;Unconditional Surrender;Executive Clemency;Sovereignty Preservation

1. Yan Ying Mourning Duke Zhuang's Corpse and Cui Zhu Sparing Him Case

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Zhou Dynasty China (548 BC)
3. Original Case: 晏婴枕庄公尸哭、崔杼释之案
4. Key Figures: Yan Ying (Yanzi), Cui Zhu, Duke Zhuang of Qi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Political Assassination;Ritual Mourning;Immunity Granted

1. The Case of Zikong's Usurpation and the People of Zheng Killing Him

2. Jurisdiction: State of Zheng, China (Spring and Autumn period) (554 BC)
3. Original Case: The Case of Zikong's Tyranny and the Killing by the Guoren of Zheng
4. Key Figures: Zikong (Prince Jia of Zheng), Zizhan (Gongsun Shezhi), Zixi (Gongsun Xia), the guoren (capital residents and lesser nobility) of Zheng, Duke Jian of Zheng
5. Case Tags: Treason;Subversion of State Order;Political Lynching;Abuse of Office

1. Case of Xun Yan and Shi Gai Killing the Clan of Duke Xi and Banishing the Noble Sons

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn period China (573 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋荀偃、士匄杀僖公之族、逐群公子案
4. Key Figures: Xun Yan (Zhonghang Yan), Shi Gai (Fan Xuanzi), the clan of Duke Xi (Duke Li of Jin), the various princely sons (gongzi)
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Clan Extermination;Exile;Power Struggle

1. The Case of Sun Linfu's Betrayal of Jin and Jin's Detention of Duke Shang of Wei

2. Jurisdiction: States of Wei and Jin, Zhou Dynasty (Ancient China) (547 BC)
3. Original Case: 卫孙林父以戚叛晋、晋人执卫殇公案
4. Key Figures: Sun Linfu (minister of Wei); Duke Shang of Wei (Wei Piao); Duke Ping of Jin; Duke Xian of Wei; Ning Xi (minister of Wei)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Hostage Taking;State Intervention;Collective Punishment

1. Song Xiangxu's Peace Initiative and Chu's Treachery Case

2. Jurisdiction: Song State, China (546 BC)
3. Original Case: 宋向戌弭兵、楚人衷甲案
4. Key Figures: Xiang Xu (Song), Qu Jian (Zimu, Chu), Zhao Wu (Jin), Shusun Bao (Lu), Zixi (Zheng)
5. Case Tags: Perfidy;Diplomatic Deceit;Breach of Truce Agreement;Militarism

1. The Case of Cui Cheng and Cui Qiang Killing Dongguo Yan and Tang Wujiu, and Qing Feng Annihilating the Cui Clan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, China (Zhou Dynasty) (546 BC)
3. Original Case: 崔成、崔强杀东郭偃、棠无咎，庆封灭崔氏案
4. Key Figures: Cui Cheng, Cui Qiang, Dongguo Yan, Tang Wujiu, Qing Feng, Cui Zhu (Cui Shuzi), Duke Jing of Qi, Cui Ming
5. Case Tags: Murder;Clan Extermination;Political Conspiracy;Usurpation

1. Zimu Asked about the Virtue of Jin and Chu Ministers and Shengzi Discussed Punishment and Reward Case

2. Jurisdiction: Chu State (Spring and Autumn China) (c. 547 BC (26th year of Duke Xiang of Lu))
3. Original Case: 子木问晋大夫与楚孰贤、声子论刑赏案
4. Key Figures: Zimu (Qu Jian, Prime Minister of Chu), Shengzi (Gongsun Guisheng, Minister of Cai), King Kang of Chu
5. Case Tags: Brain Drain;Judicial Reform;Political Discourse;State Governance

1. Cui Zhu and Qing Feng Install Duke Jing and Force the Covenant on the People, with Yan Ying Refusing to Swear

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Eastern Zhou Dynasty (present-day Shandong, China) (548 BC)
3. Original Case: 崔杼庆封立景公、盟国人晏婴不肯盟案
4. Key Figures: Cui Zhu, Qing Feng, Duke Jing of Qi (Lü Chujiu), Yan Ying (Yanzi), the people and officials of Qi
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Usurpation;Coerced Oath;Civil Disobedience

1. The Case of Cui Zhu's Assassination of Duke Zhuang and the Martyred Historians

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Zhou Dynasty (Ancient China) (548 BC)
3. Original Case: 崔杼弑齐庄公、齐太史直书三兄弟死难案
4. Key Figures: Cui Zhu, Duke Zhuang of Qi, the Grand Historian of Qi (eldest brother), the Grand Historian's two younger brothers, Nan Shi, Tang Jiang
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Political Murder;Suppression of Historical Truth;Martyrdom for Integrity

1. Luan Ying's Return to Jin and the Fan Xuanzi's Extermination of the Luan Clan Case

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (552 BC – 550 BC)
3. Original Case: 栾盈入晋、范宣子讨灭栾氏案
4. Key Figures: Luan Ying (Luan Cheng), Fan Gai (Fan Xuanzi), Duke Ping of Jin, Xu Wu, Luan Qi, Qu Jian, Shi Yang
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Clan Extermination;Treason;Power Struggle

1. The Case of King Kang of Chu Executing Prime Minister Zinan and Dismembering Guan Qi

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Hubei, China) (552 BCE (Spring and Autumn Period))
3. Original Case: 楚康王杀令尹子南、车裂观起案
4. Key Figures: King Kang of Chu, Lingyin Zinan (Prime Minister), Guan Qi (Court Noble)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Political Purge;Capital Punishment;Dismemberment by Chariots

1. Shu Xiang's Imprisonment and Qi Xi's Plea

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State (present-day Shanxi, China) (Around 552 BCE)
3. Original Case: 叔向被囚、祁奚请免案
4. Key Figures: Shu Xiang (Yangshe Xi), Qi Xi, Fan Xuanzi, Duke Ping of Jin, Yangshe Hu (Shu Xiang's half-brother)
5. Case Tags: Collective Punishment;Kin Liability;Political Persecution;Judicial Mercy

1. The Case of Fan Xuanzi Expelling Luan Ying and Executing the Ten Families Including Ji Yi

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, Spring and Autumn Period China (552 BC)
3. Original Case: 晋范宣子逐栾盈、杀箕遗等十家案
4. Key Figures: Fan Xuanzi (Shi Gai), Luan Ying, Luan Qi (Luan Ying's mother), Ji Yi, Huang Yuan, Jia Fu, Sikong Jing, Bing Yu, Dong Shu, Bing Shi, Shen Shu, Yangshe Hu, Shu Ba, Yangshe Chi, Yangshe Xi
5. Case Tags: Treason;Political Persecution;Banishment;Mass Execution

1. Ji Wuzi Blames Zang Wuzhong for Failure to Suppress Banditry

2. Jurisdiction: State of Lu (Ancient China) (552 BC (21st year of Duke Xiang of Lu, Spring and Autumn period))
3. Original Case: 季武子责臧武仲盗贼不能禁案
4. Key Figures: Ji Wuzi (Jisun Su, Chief Minister of Lu); Zang Wuzhong (Zangsun He, Minister of Crime)
5. Case Tags: Dereliction of Duty;Abuse of Power;Conflict of Interest;Aiding and Abetting Crime

1. The Case of Cui Zhu Marrying Tang Jiang and Duke Zhuang of Qi's Adultery

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, China (Spring and Autumn period) (548 BC)
3. Original Case: Cui Zhu's Assassination of Duke Zhuang of Qi (崔杼弑其君)
4. Key Figures: Cui Zhu, Tang Jiang, Duke Zhuang of Qi, Grand Historians (Taishi brothers), Yan Ying
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Adultery;Political Murder;Obstruction of Justice