Chinese Cases

Weekly crime stories and legal dramas based on famous cases from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

1. Wang Jiyuan Insanity Letter Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1758)
3. Original Case: 王寂元因疯投书案
4. VictimsHongliDefendantsWang JiyuanPlaintiffsHuang TingguiInvestigatorsHuang TingguiJudgesHongliInstitutionsBoard of Punishments
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Insanity Defense;Lingchi Execution

1. The Case of the Yan Clan Grandfather and Grandson of Pei County

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, Pei County, Jiangsu Province (Mid-18th Century (Qianlong Period))
3. Original Case: 沛县阎氏祖孙案
4. VictimsQing Dynasty Imperial AuthorityDefendantsYan ErmingYan QiPlaintiffsLocal InformantInvestigatorsJiangsu GovernorProsecutorsJiangsu GovernorJudgesMinistry of Justice of Qing DynastyInstitutionsMinistry of Justice of Qing DynastyJiangsu Governor Office
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Familial Culpability;Anti-Qing Sentiment;Book Banning

1. The Case of Zhu Sizao Lamenting the Prosperous Era

2. Jurisdiction: China (1753)
3. Original Case: 朱思藻盛世吊时案
4. DefendantsZhu SizaoInvestigatorsMinistry of JusticeJudgesQianlong EmperorInstitutionsMinistry of JusticeQing Dynasty Government
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Qing Dynasty;Political Repression;Freedom of Speech

1. Case of Liu Zhenyu's Fatal Counsel Submission

2. Jurisdiction: China (1753)
3. Original Case: 刘震宇献策丧生案
4. VictimsLiu ZhenyuDefendantsLiu ZhenyuPlaintiffsFan ShishouJudgesQianlong EmperorInstitutionsGrand Council
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Capital Offense;Qianlong Era Case;Sedition

1. Qi Zhouhua's "Mingshan Cang Fuben" Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1767)
3. Original Case: 齐周华《名山藏副本》案
4. DefendantsQi ZhouhuaPlaintiffsXiong XuepengJudgesQianlong EmperorInstitutionsMinistry of JusticeOffice of the Governor of Zhejiang
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lingchi;Qing Dynasty Law;Conspiracy against the State

1. Case of Cai Xian's "Xianyu Xianxian Lu"

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1767 (Qianlong 32))
3. Original Case: 蔡显《闲渔闲闲录》案
4. Key Figures: Cai Xian (author), Qianlong Emperor, local gentry accusers
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Treason;Qing Dynasty Literary Persecution;Chinese Case

1. The Case of Wang Xihou's "Ziguan"

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1777)
3. Original Case: The Case of Wang Xihou's "Ziguan" (Ziguan Dictionary Case)
4. Key Figures: Wang Xihou (scholar and author), Emperor Qianlong, Hai Cheng (Governor of Jiangxi)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Imperial Censorship;Crime of Great Sedition

1. The Yin Jiaquan Literary Persecution Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China (1781 (46th year of the Qianlong reign))
3. Original Case: Yin Jiaquan Qing Shi Zhu Shu Yuan An
4. Key Figures: Yin Jiaquan (former Vice Minister of the Court of Judicature), Qianlong Emperor, Yin Huiyi (Yin Jiaquan's father)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Political Persecution;Imperial Censorship

1. Peng Jiaping's Words on Disaster Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China (1757 (22nd year of the Qianlong reign))
3. Original Case: 彭家屏言灾成灾案
4. Key Figures: Peng Jiaping, Emperor Qianlong, Duan Changxu, Tulebing'a
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Sedition;Concealment of Disaster;Imperial Censorship

1. Case of the Official Cangued for Forcible Land Seizure

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1738 (Qianlong 3rd Year))
3. Original Case: 强行征地官枷号案
4. Key Figures: Magistrate Zhao Dexing (赵德兴), Village Chief Chen Daniu (陈大牛), Provincial Governor Li Wei (李卫)
5. Case Tags: Official Misconduct;Land Expropriation;Extortion;Abuse of Power

1. The Case of Hu Zhongzao's "Poetry of Jianmosheng"

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1755 (20th year of Qianlong reign))
3. Original Case: 《坚磨生诗钞》胡中藻案
4. Key Figures: Hu Zhongzao (defendant), Qianlong Emperor (judge), E'ertai (deceased grand secretary posthumously implicated), Zhang Tingyu (involved associate)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Political Repression;Qing Dynasty Censorship

1. The Case of the Model Farmer Turned Bully

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty, Shandong Province) (1761 (the 26th year of the Qianlong reign))
3. Original Case: 模范老农成恶霸案
4. Key Figures: Wang Shi (the awarded model farmer), Li Dahu (the victim neighbor), the corrupt local county magistrate, the Board of Punishments, the Qianlong Emperor
5. Case Tags: Murder;Land Grabbing;Official Corruption;Abuse of Honors

1. The Strange Case of the Madman's Capital Accusation

2. Jurisdiction: China, Qing Dynasty, Jiangsu Province and Beijing (1808-1809 (Jiaqing 13th-14th year of the Qing Dynasty))
3. Original Case: 疯子告京状奇案
4. Key Figures: Li Yuchang (李毓昌, the deceased), Madman (unnamed accuser), local officials involved in the cover-up
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Corruption and Misconduct in Public Office;Obstruction of Justice;Capital Appeals System

1. Tongzi River Floating Corpse Mystery

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (Mid-Qing Dynasty (specific year debated, commonly attributed to 18th-19th century))
3. Original Case: 筒子河浮尸奇案
4. Key Figures: Victim (unidentified female); Qing Dynasty judiciary; local residents
5. Case Tags: Homicide;Unidentified Body;Cold Case;Historical Mystery

1. The Theft Case of Yongle Encyclopedia

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (Late Qing Dynasty (circa 1860s-1900s, notably around 1900))
3. Original Case: 《永乐大典》被盗案
4. Key Figures: Hanlin Academy officials, Lu Xinyuan, foreign diplomats and antique dealers
5. Case Tags: Cultural Relic Theft;Embezzlement by Public Officials;Antiquities Smuggling;Destruction of State Property

1. The Case of the Imperial Gift Ruby

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China, Nanjing (During the reign of Emperor Guangxu (likely late 19th century))
3. Original Case: 御赐红宝石奇案
4. Key Figures: Liu Kunyi (Viceroy of Liangjiang), The impostor (unnamed swindler)
5. Case Tags: Fraud and Imposture;Offenses Against the Imperial Authority;Cold Case / Historic Mystery;Property Crime

1. The Case of the Framed Provincial Magnate

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty, Zhejiang Province) (1873)
3. Original Case: 封疆大吏诬陷案
4. Key Figures: Yang Naiwu, Bi Xiugu (nicknamed "Little Cabbage"), Magistrate Liu Xitong
5. Case Tags: Judicial Corruption;Miscarriage of Justice;False Accusation;Late Qing Dynasty Odd Case

1. The Governor's Haircut Injustice Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (circa 1654 (Shunzhi era))
3. Original Case: 总督剃头冤死案
4. Key Figures: Governor-General of Liangjiang (name often given as Ma Xiongzhen or a generic official in folklore), the barber, imperial censor accuser
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Execution;Political Persecution;Capital Offense;Ethnic Oppression Law

1. The Case of Akedun, the High Official Sentenced to Death with Three Reprieves

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1748 (the 13th year of Qianlong) and subsequent years)
3. Original Case: 阿克敦三次死缓案
4. Key Figures: Akedun (Zhangjia Akedun), the Qianlong Emperor
5. Case Tags: Capital Offense with Reprieve;Lèse-majesté;Imperial Clemency;Mistranslation Case

1. Dou Guangnai's Defiant Anti-Corruption Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1786 (Qianlong 51st year))
3. Original Case: 窦光鼐誓死除贪案
4. Key Figures: Dou Guangnai (Imperial Censor and Educational Commissioner), Qianlong Emperor, Huang Mei (Magistrate of Pingyang County), Yilinga (Governor of Zhejiang)
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Impeachment;Abuse of Power;Qing Dynasty Judiciary