Chinese Cases

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

1. Qian Feng Uncovering the Treasury Silver Deficit Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1782)
3. Original Case: 钱沣智破库银亏空案
4. Key Figures: Qian Feng, Heshen, Liu Yong, Guotai, Yu Yijian
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Embezzlement;Impeachment;Qing Dynasty

1. Zhejiang Governor Fusong Corruption Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China (1793 (58th year of the Qianlong reign))
3. Original Case: The Embezzlement Case of Zhejiang Governor Fusong
4. Key Figures: Fusong (Governor of Zhejiang), Quande (Lianghuai Salt Commissioner), Qianlong Emperor, Heshen (Grand Secretary, alleged political rival)
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Embezzlement;Qing Dynasty Official;Death Penalty

1. Gansu Fraudulent Disaster Relief Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (Revealed in 1781 (the 46th year of the Qianlong reign), with fraudulent activities dating back to at least 1774)
3. Original Case: 甘肃冒赈案 (Gansu Disaster Relief Fraud Case)
4. Key Figures: Wang Danwang (former Gansu Provincial Administration Commissioner and later Governor of Zhejiang), Le'erjin (Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu), Wang Tingzan (Gansu Provincial Administration Commissioner), Jiang Quandi (Prefect of Lanzhou), along with dozens of prefectural and county officials
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Disaster Relief Fraud;Historical Case;Group Crime

1. The Lianghuai Salt Certificate Scandal

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1768 (uncovered in the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign; crimes dated back to the 1740s))
3. Original Case: 两淮特大盐引案
4. Key Figures: Gao Heng (Lianghuai Salt Commissioner), Pu Fu (former Salt Commissioner), Lu Jianzeng (Salt Distribution Commissioner), Ji Xiaolan (informant), and multiple salt merchants including Wang Qishu
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Embezzlement;Bribery;Abuse of Power

1. Yongzheng Prohibition of Speech and Books Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1728-1732)
3. Original Case: 雍正禁言禁书案
4. Key Figures: Emperor Yongzheng, Zeng Jing, Zhang Xi, Lü Liuliang, Yue Zhongqi
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Sedition;Book Banning;Political Trial

1. The Case of Hongshi's Death

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1726–1727 (expelled in February 1726; died in confinement on the fifth day of the eighth lunar month, 1727))
3. Original Case: 三阿哥弘时之死案
4. Key Figures: Hongshi (Third Prince), Yongzheng Emperor, Yunsi (Prince Lian, the Eighth Prince), Yuntao (Prince Lü, the Twelfth Prince)
5. Case Tags: Treason;Political Purge;House Arrest;Suspicious Death

1. The Strange Case of a Slave Suing His Master

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, Zhili Province (present-day Hebei) (circa 1820-1850 (Daoguang Reign))
3. Original Case: 家奴告主奇案
4. Key Figures: Liu Yi (Magistrate and Master), Li Fu (Household Slave)
5. Case Tags: Master-Servant Litigation;Judicial Ethics;Confucian Social Hierarchy;Qing Legal Code Violation

1. Tu Rusong's Wrongful Conviction for Uxoricide in Macheng

2. Jurisdiction: Macheng, Hubei Province, Qing Dynasty China (1730 (Yongzheng reign))
3. Original Case: Macheng Tu Rusong Sha Qi Yuan An
4. Key Figures: Tu Rusong (husband), Yang Shi (wife), Feng Da (lover), Tang Yingqiu (Magistrate of Macheng), Mai Zhu (Governor-General of Huguang), Yang Shi's brother
5. Case Tags: Wrongful Conviction;Coerced Confession Through Torture;Spousal Homicide Allegation;Judicial Corruption in Imperial China

1. Lu Shengnan's Historical Essays Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1729 (the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign))
3. Original Case: 陆生楠论史案
4. Key Figures: Lu Shengnan, Emperor Yongzheng, Xibao (Prince Shuncheng)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Thought Crime;Treason by Words

1. Xie Jishi's Annotation of the Classics Case

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China (1729 (7th year of the Yongzheng reign))
3. Original Case: Xie Jishi Zhu Jing An (The Case of Xie Jishi Annotating the Classics)
4. Key Figures: Xie Jishi (scholar-official), Prince Shuncheng Xibao (accuser), Yongzheng Emperor
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Thought Crime;Qing Dynasty Persecution;Confucian Orthodoxy Enforcement

1. The Case of Lü Liuliang and Zeng Jing

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1728-1733)
3. Original Case: 吕留良、曾静狱案
4. Key Figures: Yongzheng Emperor, Lü Liuliang (posthumously accused), Zeng Jing, Zhang Xi, Yue Zhongqi
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Sedition;Treason;Political Persecution

1. Zha Siting Examination Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1726 (4th year of Yongzheng reign))
3. Original Case: 查嗣庭试题案
4. Key Figures: Yongzheng Emperor, Zha Siting
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Imperial Examination Scandal;Political Persecution

1. The Case of Qian Mingshi as "Sinner Against Confucian Orthodoxy"

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1726)
3. Original Case: Qian Mingshi "Mingjiao Zuiren" Case (钱名世“名教罪人”案)
4. Key Figures: Yongzheng Emperor, Qian Mingshi, Nian Gengyao
5. Case Tags: Lèse-majesté;Literary Inquisition;Political Persecution;Public Humiliation Penalty

1. Wang Jingqi's "Xizheng Suibi" Case (The "Meritorious Officials Must Not Be" Case)

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty, China (1725–1726 (Yongzheng reign, 3rd–4th year))
3. Original Case: 汪景祺《西征随笔》案（《功臣不可为》）
4. Key Figures: Wang Jingqi (author), Nian Gengyao (general and patron), Yongzheng Emperor (ruler)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Lèse-majesté;Political Persecution;Treason

1. Case of Nian Gengyao's Forced Suicide

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1726)
3. Original Case: Nian Gengyao Cisi An (年羹尧赐死案)
4. Key Figures: Nian Gengyao, Emperor Yongzheng
5. Case Tags: High Treason;Abuse of Power;Corruption;Political Purge

1. Case of Vice Minister Yue Jun Falsely Accusing Zhang Guangsi

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1748)
3. Original Case: 工部侍郎岳濬诬告张广泗案
4. Key Figures: Yue Jun (Vice Minister of Works), Zhang Guangsi (Viceroy of Sichuan-Shaanxi), Qianlong Emperor
5. Case Tags: False Accusation;Official Impeachment Abuse;Military Campaign Malfeasance;Qing Code Retribution

1. Chen Si's Cross-Provincial Gang Robbery Case in Taiyuan

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1708 (47th year of the Kangxi reign))
3. Original Case: 太原陈四跨省结伙抢虏案
4. Key Figures: Chen Si (leader of the famine refugees), over one hundred Shandong famine refugees, Taiyuan Prefect, Shanxi Governor, and other local officials involved in the trial.
5. Case Tags: False Accusation of Banditry;Imperial Judicial Review;Famine-Induced Migration;Official Malfeasance and Torture

1. Zhu Fangdan Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1682 (21st year of Kangxi reign))
3. Key Figures: Zhu Fangdan (self-proclaimed sage, healer, and author), Wang Hongxu (Left Censor-in-chief who impeached him), Gu Qihong (chief disciple)
4. Case Tags: Heresy;Sedition;Witchcraft;Literary Inquisition

1. Dai Mingshi Case (Nanshan Collection Literary Inquisition)

2. Jurisdiction: Qing Dynasty China (1711–1713)
3. Original Case: Nanshan Ji Case
4. Key Figures: Dai Mingshi (scholar, accused), Zhao Shenqiao (censor, accuser), Fang Bao (implicated literatus), Kangxi Emperor (judge)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;High Treason;Capital Punishment;Political Persecution

1. Shen Tianfu Forgery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (Qing Dynasty) (1667 (Sixth year of the Kangxi reign))
3. Original Case: 沈天甫伪书案
4. Key Figures: Shen Tianfu, Lü Zhong, Xia Linqi, Wu Yuanlai (son of Ming loyalist Wu Sheng)
5. Case Tags: Literary Inquisition;Forgery;Extortion;Judicial Precedent