Ancient Chinese Law

Examination of feudal legal codes and precedents in historical China

1. The Case of Dou Li's Murder Injustice

2. Jurisdiction: Cao Wei state, Three Kingdoms China (c. 227–239 AD (Cao Wei period))
3. Original Case: Dou Li Bei Hai Yuan An
4. VictimsDou LiDefendantsJiao ZiwenPlaintiffsYingInvestigatorsGao RouJudgesGao RouInstitutionsTingwei (Commandant of Justice)Imperial Guard Camp of Wei
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Conviction;Murder;Judicial Investigation;Ancient Chinese Law

1. Case of Man Chong Interrogating Yang Biao

2. Jurisdiction: China (Eastern Han Dynasty) (197 AD)
3. Original Case: 满宠考讯杨彪案
4. VictimsYang BiaoPlaintiffsCao CaoInvestigatorsMan ChongDefense AttorneysKong RongXun YuJudgesMan ChongInstitutionsOffice of the Prefect of Xu
5. Case Tags: Political Persecution;Ancient Chinese Law;Three Kingdoms History;Judicial Torture

1. Case of Yang Qiu Executing Wang Fu

2. Jurisdiction: 东汉（中国） (光和二年（179年）)
3. Original Case: 阳球诛王甫案
4. Victims王甫Defendants王甫Plaintiffs阳球Investigators阳球Prosecutors阳球Judges阳球Institutions司隶校尉府
5. Case Tags: Political Purge;Judicial Torture;Ancient Chinese Law;Imperial Court Case

1. The Case of Dong Xuan Executing Gongsun Dan and His Son

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty, China (c. 43 AD (During the Jianwu Era of Emperor Guangwu))
3. Original Case: 董宣诛公孙丹父子案
4. VictimsGongsun DanSon of Gongsun DanDefendantsDong XuanPlaintiffsRelatives of Gongsun DanInvestigatorsDong XuanProsecutorsRelatives of Gongsun DanJudgesEmperor Guangwu of HanInstitutionsLuoyang County Government
5. Case Tags: Abuse of Power;Ancient Chinese Law;Capital Punishment;Judicial Independence

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. 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. Wu You Evasion of Garrison Duty and Waist-Chopping Case

2. Jurisdiction: Han Dynasty China (Han Dynasty (exact year uncertain, circa 2nd century BCE))
3. Original Case: 毋忧逃避屯戍腰斩案
4. Key Figures: Wu You (毋忧), an absconded conscript
5. Case Tags: Military Service Evasion;Desertion;Capital Punishment;Ancient Chinese Law

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. 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