Chinese Cases

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

1. Case of the Shi Qi Ding (Military Law Violation)

2. Jurisdiction: Western Zhou Dynasty, China (Mid-Western Zhou period (approx. 10th century BC))
3. Original Case: 师旂鼎·军法违纪案
4. Key Figures: Shi Qi (Plaintiff/Officer), Bo Mao Fu (Judge/Commander), Zhong Pu (Defendants/Subordinates), Yin (Intermediary/Messenger), Zhong Shi (Scribe)
5. Case Tags: Military Law;Mutiny/Disobedience;Ancient Judicial Procedure;Commutation

1. The Case of Ji Liang's Admonition to Pursue the Chu Army

2. Jurisdiction: State of Sui (present-day Suizhou, Hubei, China) (704 BCE)
3. Original Case: 随国季梁谏追楚师案
4. Key Figures: Ji Liang (minister of Sui), Duke of Sui (ruler of Sui), King Wu of Chu
5. Case Tags: Malfeasance in military command;Endangering state security;Spring and Autumn period historical case;Political remonstrance and people-centered thought

1. Case of Li Ji Slandering Shensheng

2. Jurisdiction: Jin State, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (656 BC)
3. Original Case: 骊姬谗杀申生案
4. Key Figures: Li Ji (骊姬), Shensheng (申生), Duke Xian of Jin (晋献公), Chong'er (重耳), Yiwu (夷吾), Xun Xi (荀息)
5. Case Tags: Political Conspiracy;Slander and Frame-up;Inheritance Dispute;Forced Suicide

1. The Case of Duke Huan of Qi Detaining the Marquis of Cai

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, State of Cai (Spring and Autumn Period China) (656 BC)
3. Original Case: 齐桓公执蔡侯案
4. Key Figures: Duke Huan of Qi (Plaintiff/Heavener), Marquis Mu of Cai (Defendant), Bao Shuya (Qi Strategist)
5. Case Tags: Military Aggression;Political Detention;Breach of Alliance;Maritime Conflict

1. Case of Ziyu's Military Review and Weijia's Discourse on Punishment

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (633 BC (27th year of Duke Xi of Lu))
3. Original Case: Ziyu Zhi Bing, Weijia Lun Xing An (子玉治兵、蒍贾论刑案)
4. Key Figures: Ziyu (Cheng Dechen), Weijia, Ziwen (former chief minister of Chu)
5. Case Tags: Military Discipline;Excessive Corporal Punishment;Political Prophecy;Historical Admonition

1. The Case of Li Li's Misjudgment and Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn period) (During the reign of Duke Wen of Jin (circa 636–628 BC))
3. Original Case: Li Li Guo Ting Sha Ren, Fu Jian Zi Cai An
4. Key Figures: Li Li (chief judge of the State of Jin), Duke Wen of Jin (ruler)
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Execution;Judicial Accountability;Capital Punishment;Self-imposed Death Sentence

1. The Case of the Eunuch Pi Reporting Lü Sheng and Xi Rui's Plot to Burn the Ducal Palace

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn period) (636 BC)
3. Original Case: 寺人披告发吕甥、郤芮谋焚公宫案
4. Key Figures: Duke Wen of Jin (Chong\'er), Eunuch Pi (Bo Di), Lü Sheng, Xi Rui
5. Case Tags: Treason;Conspiracy to Murder;Arson Plot;Palace Coup Attempt

1. The Case of Xu Chen Recommending Xi Que

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (Around 632 BC)
3. Original Case: 胥臣举郜缺案
4. Key Figures: Xu Chen (胥臣), Xi Que (郤缺), Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), Xi Rui (郤芮)
5. Case Tags: Political Rehabilitation;Descendants of Criminals;Meritocratic Appointment;Pardon and Restoration

1. Litigation between Marquis Wei and Yuan Xuan and the Marquis' Defeat and Arrest

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei / State of Jin (trial held under Jin hegemony), Zhou Dynasty China (632 BC (Winter, 28th year of Duke Xi of Lu))
3. Original Case: 卫侯与元咺争讼、卫侯败诉被执案
4. Key Figures: Marquis Cheng of Wei (Wei Chenggong), Yuan Xuan, Duke Wen of Jin, Ning Wuzi (Ning Yu), Shi Rong, Zhen Zhuangzi
5. Case Tags: Inter-state Hegemonic Arbitration;Feudal Vassal Trial;Breach of Allegiance and Murder;Execution of Judicial Officer

1. The Case of Duke Cheng of Wei's Return and the Covenant with the People

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei (卫国), under the hegemonic jurisdiction of Jin (晋国), Spring and Autumn China (630 BC (Spring and Autumn Period))
3. Original Case: 卫侯归国、宁武子与卫人盟誓案
4. Key Figures: Duke Cheng of Wei (卫成公), Ning Wuzi (宁武子/Ning Yu), Yuan Xuan (元咺), Duke Wen of Jin (晋文公), Shu Wu (叔武), Prince Xia (公子瑕)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Breach of Covenant;Hegemonic Intervention;Usurpation

1. Case of Xu Chen's Discourse on Respect and Virtue in Recommending the Worthy

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (c. 632 BCE)
3. Original Case: 胥臣论敬与德以举贤案
4. Key Figures: Xu Chen (Jiu Ji), Duke Wen of Jin (Chong'er), Xi Que (Ji Que)
5. Case Tags: Merit-based Appointment;Exemption from Guilt by Association;Conflict of Interest Waiver;Ancient Confucian Governance Precedent

1. Case of Jia Ji Ordering Xu Juju to Kill Yang Chufu

2. Jurisdiction: State of Jin, Spring and Autumn period China (621 BC)
3. Original Case: 贾季使续鞫居杀阳处父案
4. Key Figures: Jia Ji (Hu Shegu), Xu Juju (Xu Jianbo), Yang Chufu, Zhao Dun
5. Case Tags: Murder;Solicitation to Commit Murder;Political Assassination;Ancient Chinese Law

1. Case of Duke Zhao of Song Attempting to Remove the Princelings and Yue Yu Resigning as Minister of Justice

2. Jurisdiction: State of Song (Spring and Autumn period China) (619 BC)
3. Original Case: 宋昭公欲去群公子、乐豫辞司寇案
4. Key Figures: Duke Zhao of Song, Yue Yu (Minister of Justice), the various princelings (gongzi) of Song, the Mu and Xiang clans, Gongsun Gu, Gongsun Zheng, Gongzi Ang
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Clan Conflict;Resignation in Protest;Noble Resistance

1. The Case of Prince Zhu Ru of Cheng Fleeing to Lu with Fuzhong

2. Jurisdiction: State of Cheng and State of Lu, China (Spring and Autumn Period) (615 BC)
3. Original Case: 郕太子朱儒以夫钟奔鲁案
4. Key Figures: Zhu Ru (Crown Prince of the State of Cheng), Duke Wen of Lu, the people of Cheng, the newly enthroned ruler of Cheng
5. Case Tags: Treason;Defection;Ritual Offence;Usurpation of Title

1. The Case of Prince Shangren (Duke Yi of Qi) and the Land Dispute with Bing Yuan

2. Jurisdiction: State of Qi, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Shandong, China) (Around 609 BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period)
3. Original Case: 公子商人与邴歜父邴原争田案
4. Key Figures: Prince Shangren (later Duke Yi of Qi), Bing Yuan (Bing Chu’s father), Bing Chu, Yan Zhi (Yong Zhi)
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Desecration of Corpses;Revenge Killing;Regicide

1. Dou Yuejiao’s Attempted Assassination of King Zhuang and Clan Extermination Case

2. Jurisdiction: Chu State, Zhou Dynasty (Spring and Autumn period) (605 BC)
3. Original Case: 子越椒弑楚庄王未遂、族灭案
4. Key Figures: Dou Yuejiao (Ziyuejiao), King Zhuang of Chu, Wei Jia
5. Case Tags: Attempted Regicide;Armed Rebellion;Clan Extermination;Aristocratic Power Struggle

1. The Case of Xia Zhengshu Assassinating Duke Ling of Chen

2. Jurisdiction: State of Chen, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Huaiyang, Henan, China) (599 BCE)
3. Original Case: Xia Zhengshu shi Chen Linggong an
4. Key Figures: Xia Zhengshu, Duke Ling of Chen, Kong Ning, Yi Xingfu, Xia Ji, King Zhuang of Chu
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Adultery-Related Homicide;Revenge Killing;Foreign Intervention

1. The San Family Plate (San Shi Pan) Land Transfer Case

2. Jurisdiction: Western Zhou Dynasty, China; the states of Ze and San, located in present-day Baoji, Shaanxi Province (Late Western Zhou period, approximately the reign of King Li (c. 857–842 BCE))
3. Original Case: 散氏盘·夨国赔偿散氏土地移转案
4. Key Figures: The state of Ze (夨国), the San lineage (散氏), and a royal overseer named Zhongnong (仲农) dispatched by the Zhou King
5. Case Tags: Ancient Chinese Law;Land Property;Treaty and Covenant;Dispute Resolution History

1. The Case of Hua Du Killing Kong Fujia, Usurping His Wife, and Assassinating Duke Shang of Song

2. Jurisdiction: State of Song, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Shangqiu, Henan) (710 BC)
3. Original Case: 华督杀孔父嘉夺妻、弑宋殇公案
4. Key Figures: Hua Du (華督), Kong Fujia (孔父嘉), Duke Shang of Song (宋殤公), Duke Zhuang of Song (宋莊公)
5. Case Tags: homicide;regicide;conspiracy;public order offense

1. The Case of Wei Zhouyu's Regicide and Usurpation

2. Jurisdiction: State of Wei, Zhou Dynasty (present-day Henan, China) (719 BC)
3. Original Case: 卫州吁弑君篡位案
4. Key Figures: Zhouyu (Prince of Wei, usurper), Duke Huan of Wei (the assassinated ruler), Shi Que (Wei minister who orchestrated the counter-coup), Shi Hou (Shi Que's son and Zhouyu's co-conspirator), Duke Huan of Chen (ally who facilitated the execution)
5. Case Tags: Regicide;Usurpation;Treason;Capital Punishment