Chinese Cases

Selected real-world legal cases from the Chinese-speaking world, adapted into suspenseful courtroom drama novels.

1. Dali 2nd Year Case of Fengxian County Commoner v. Weinan Magistrate over Tenancy Seizure

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty China (767 CE (2nd Year of Dali Reign))
3. Original Case: Case of Fengxian County Resident Suing Weinan Magistrate for Seizing Tenancy in the 2nd Year of Dali
4. JudgesLi MianInstitutionsJingzhao Prefecture
5. Case Tags: Tenancy Dispute;Magistrate Abuse of Power;Jingzhao Prefecture Trial;Dali Reign Legal Precedent

1. The Case of Yan Wu, Military Governor of Jiannan, Memorializing the Execution of the Rebel General Han Cheng of Zizhou in the First Year of Yongtai

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty China (present-day Sichuan region) (765 AD (First Year of the Yongtai era))
3. Original Case: 永泰元年剑南节度使严武奏斩梓州叛将韩澄案
4. DefendantsHan ChengPlaintiffsYan WuJudgesLi YuInstitutionsJiannan Jiedushi OfficeTang Imperial Court
5. Case Tags: Military Rebellion;Tang Dynasty Law;Jiedushi Power;Summary Imperial Execution

1. The Taiyuan Prefecture Prison Break Case Memorialized by Xin Yunjing

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty China (763 AD (First year of the Guangde era))
3. Original Case: Case of Xin Yunjing, Military Governor of Hedong, Memorializing the Execution of the Taiyuan Prefecture Prison Breakers in the First Year of the Guangde Era under Emperor Daizong
4. InvestigatorsXin YunjingJudgesEmperor Daizong of Tang (Li Yu)InstitutionsHedong Military Governor's OfficeTaiyuan Prefecture
5. Case Tags: Prison Break;Tang Dynasty Law;Military Governor Justice;Summary Execution

1. 宝应元年越州余姚县民诉县令私增田税案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝（中国） (762年（唐宝应元年）)
3. VictimsDefendants李延业Plaintiffs王惟良InvestigatorsProsecutorsDefense AttorneysPlaintiff AttorneysJudgesInstitutions越州都督府
4. Status or Result: 越州都督府审理认定，李延业私增田税并贪墨钱粮，依法除名免官，追缴赃物，并予严惩。
5. Case Tags: 唐代税案;私增田税;民告官;安史之乱后社会矛盾

1. The Case of Yangzhou Chief Historian Liu Zhan Impeaching the Jiangdu Magistrate for Accepting Bribes and Perverting the Law in the First Year of the Shangyuan Era

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty, China (760 AD (First Year of the Shangyuan Era, Reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang))
3. Original Case: 上元元年扬州长史刘展奏劾江都令受财枉法案
4. VictimsNoneDefendantsJiangdu County Magistrate (name unknown)PlaintiffsLiu ZhanInvestigatorsNoneProsecutorsNoneDefense AttorneysNonePlaintiff AttorneysNoneJudgesEmperor Suzong of Tang (Li Heng)InstitutionsYangzhou PrefectureTang Ministry of Justice (Da Li Si)
5. Case Tags: Tang Bribery Case;Supervisory Impeachment;Shangyuan Era Justice;Perverting Justice for Bribes

1. Case of Wang Sili Memorializing the Execution of Horse Thieves in Jiangzhou

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty (China) (759 AD (2nd year of Qianyuan))
3. Original Case: 乾元二年河中节度使王思礼奏决绛州盗马案
4. JudgesWang SiliInstitutionsHezhong Military Governor's Office
5. Case Tags: Tang Dynasty Judicial Case;Horse Theft Crime;Military Governor Power;Memorial Decision System

1. 乾元元年凤翔府李鼎奏断岐州民史华称兵案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐，岐州（凤翔府，今陕西凤翔） (乾元元年（公元758年）)
3. Defendants史华Plaintiffs李鼎Judges李鼎Institutions凤翔府
4. Status or Result: 史华以谋反大逆罪处斩，同党骨干处死或流放，家属缘坐，财产没官。
5. Case Tags: 谋反;称兵;妖言;连坐

1. Case of Cui Guangyuan Memorializing the Trial of Surrendered Officials

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty, China (757 AD)
3. Original Case: 肃宗至德二载西京留守崔光远奏鞫降贼官案
4. VictimsEmperor Suzong of TangDefendantsDaxi XunChen XilieZhang JiOther surrendered officialsPlaintiffsCui GuangyuanInvestigatorsNoneProsecutorsCui GuangyuanJudgesEmperor Suzong of TangInstitutionsOffice of the Defender of the Western CapitalTang Dynasty Ministry of Justice
5. Case Tags: Treason;An Lushan Rebellion;Tang Dynasty Law;Political Purge

1. 天宝十四载东都留守李憕奏鞫逆贼禄山留台御史案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝中国 (公元755年（唐天宝十四载）)
3. Victims唐玄宗李隆基Defendants李超独孤问俗Plaintiffs李憕Investigators李憕Judges唐玄宗李隆基Institutions东都留守府御史台
4. Case Tags: 谋逆罪;安史之乱;唐代御史台;李憕

1. Case of An Lushan's Memorial to Execute the Yunzhou Mutineers

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Empire (China) (753 CE (12th year of Tianbao))
3. Original Case: 天宝十二载范阳节度使安禄山奏诛云州叛卒案
4. Defendants云州叛卒Plaintiffs安禄山Judges唐玄宗李隆基Institutions范阳节度使府唐朝廷
5. Case Tags: Mutiny and Rebellion;Military Governor Autocracy;Extrajudicial Execution;Prelude to An Lushan Rebellion

1. Case of a Gong County Commoner Suing the County Sheriff for Torturing the Innocent (Tianbao 9)

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty China (present-day Henan Province) (750 AD (9th year of the Tianbao era, reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang))
3. Original Case: 天宝九载河南府巩县民诉县尉拷掠无过案
4. VictimsUnnamed innocent commoner (tortured and driven to suicide)DefendantsZhang Jingyu (张景毓)PlaintiffsA commoner from Gong County (name unknown)JudgesDali Temple (大理寺) judgesInstitutionsDali Temple (大理寺)
5. Case Tags: Torture of the Innocent;Abuse of Power by County Sheriff;Tang Judicial Supervision;Tianbao Era Legal Cases

1. 天宝六载尚书刑部覆断汴州民郭氏杀妾案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝 (天宝六载（公元747年）)
3. Victims郭氏妾Defendants郭氏Plaintiffs妾之亲属Prosecutors汴州官府Judges尚书刑部郎中Institutions尚书刑部汴州府衙
4. Status or Result: 尚书刑部覆审后，改判郭氏流放三千里，以惩其故杀之恶，同时保全其性命，体现等级特权。
5. Case Tags: 唐代法制史;杀妾案;尚书刑部覆核;良贱身份制

1. Case of a Hezhou Commoner Suing a Lieutenant Colonel for Forced Purchase of Sheep and Horses in the Fourth Year of Tianbao, Longyou Circuit

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty China (745 CE (Fourth Year of Tianbao))
3. Original Case: Case of Hezhou Commoners v. Lieutenant Colonel Wang Fengxian for Coerced Purchase of Livestock (745 CE)
4. VictimsWang XiaozhongLi GuangjunDefendantsWang FengxianPlaintiffsWang XiaozhongLi GuangjunInvestigatorsNoneProsecutorsNoneDefense AttorneysNonePlaintiff AttorneysNoneJudgesHezhou Prefectural OfficialsInstitutionsHezhou Government, Longyou Circuit, Tang Dynasty
5. Case Tags: Tang Dynasty Criminal Case;Official Corruption;Forced Purchase;Historical Legal Case

1. 天宝二年西州交河县民曹怀璧诉负钱不还案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝（西州交河县） (天宝二年（公元743年）)
3. Defendants史玄政Plaintiffs曹怀璧Judges交河县令Institutions交河县衙
4. Case Tags: 唐代法律;吐鲁番文书;民事借贷纠纷;天宝年间

1. The Case of Liu Puqing Suing His Younger Brother for Seizing Fields and House in the 29th Year of Kaiyuan

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty, China (741 AD (29th Year of Kaiyuan Era))
3. Original Case: 开元二十九年京兆府醴泉县民刘普庆诉弟强占田宅案
4. DefendantsLiu HongjiPlaintiffsLiu PuqingInstitutionsJingzhao Prefecture Office
5. Case Tags: Family Property Dispute;Tang Dynasty Law;Sibling Conflict;Dunhuang Legal Manuscripts

1. Case of Shanzhou Commoners Suing the Prefect for Unpaid Grain Loans in the 27th Year of Kaiyuan, Longyou Circuit

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty (China) (27th Year of Kaiyuan (739 AD))
3. Original Case: 开元二十七年陇右道鄯州民诉刺史贷粮不还案
4. VictimsNoneDefendantsNonePlaintiffsNoneInvestigatorsNoneProsecutorsNoneDefense AttorneysNonePlaintiff AttorneysNoneJudgesNoneInstitutionsNone
5. Case Tags: Ancient Debt Dispute;Supervisory Official Misconduct;Tang Code Application;Official Corruption

1. Case of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices' Detailed Deliberation on the Transgression of Auspicious and Inauspicious Ritual Protocols in the 25th Year of Kaiyuan

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty, China (737 AD (25th Year of Kaiyuan Era))
3. Original Case: 开元二十五年太常寺奉敕详定吉凶仪制涉逾僭案
4. JudgesEmperor Xuanzong of TangInstitutionsCourt of Imperial Sacrifices (太常寺)Tang Imperial Court
5. Case Tags: Ritual Transgression;Tang Dynasty Law;Imperial Ritual System;Sumptuary Violation

1. 开元二十三年河南府洛阳县民张阿难诉市券伪滥案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝 (开元二十三年（公元735年）)
3. Defendants市司Plaintiffs张阿难Prosecutors有司Institutions河南府洛阳县市司
4. Status or Result: 认定市司擅自改署市券，实属违敕，依法科以违敕之罪，维持有司指控。
5. Case Tags: 唐代法制;市券伪滥;违敕罪;奴婢买卖

1. 章仇兼琼奏决私度僧尼案

2. Jurisdiction: 唐朝（中国） (开元二十一年（733年）)
3. Original Case: 开元二十一年剑南道节度使章仇兼琼奏决私度僧尼案
4. Defendants剑南道私度僧尼Plaintiffs章仇兼琼Judges唐玄宗李隆基Institutions剑南道节度使府尚书省祠部
5. Case Tags: 唐代法制史;私度僧尼;宗教管理;章仇兼琼

1. Case of the Debt of Qian Shaoqing, a Commoner of Jiangdu County, Yangzhou, Submitted by the Department of State Affairs to the Court of Judicial Review for Detailed Adjudication in the 19th Year of Kaiyuan

2. Jurisdiction: Tang Dynasty, China (731 CE (19th year of the Kaiyuan reign))
3. Original Case: 开元十九年尚书都省牒大理寺详断扬州江都县民钱少卿债负案
4. VictimsCao MomingDefendantsQian ShaoqingPlaintiffsCao MomingInstitutionsDepartment of State Affairs (Shangshu Dusheng)Court of Judicial Review (Dali Si)Yangzhou Prefecture
5. Case Tags: Debt Default;Usury Cap;Tang Civil Dispute;Surety Liability