True Crimes in Eighteenth-Century China: Twenty Case Histories Book

Preface and Acknowledgments ix

Translator's Notes xiii

Introduction 3

Part I Judicial Procedures 29

Case 1 Xu Si: A Scuffle over a Debt (Jiangsu, 1702) 30

Case 2 Li Huaiyu: The Missing Brother (Hunan, 1736) 37

Case 3 Ms. Guo: Accidental Homicide Concealed (Zhili, 1794) 52

Case 4 Li Cang: Blackmail and Arsenic (Shanxi, 1803) 59

Case 5 Cao Ligong: Attempted Rape That Led to Murder (Zhili, 1803) 64

Part II Interrogation Techniques 79

Case 6 Du Huailiang: Adultery That Brought Disaster (Shandong, 1696) 79

Case 7 Rui Meisheng: Manslaughter over an Outhouse (Anhui, 1722) 90

Case 8 Jia Mingyuan: Accidental Homicide (Fengtian, 1796) 96

Part III Intent and Premeditated Violence 103

Case 9 Luo Zhongyi: Kidnapping (Guangdong, 1728) 103

Case 10 Wang Azhen: Murder for Extortion (Guangdong, 1779) 116

Part IV The Failure of "Confucian" Family Values 122

Case 11 Li Er and Li San: Two Pecks of Beans (Fengtian, 1738) 123

Case 12 The Hong Brothers: A Quarrel over Manure (Hunan, 1738) 128

Case 13 Ms. Wang: Incest and Violent Homicide (Jilin, 1738) 133

Case 14 Ms. Ma: Disguised Poisoning (Shandong, 1795) 142

Part V Control of Politically Marginal Groups and Individuals 147

Case 15 A Village Vendetta and Han Intercession (Guangxi, 1728) 148

Case 16 Rebellious Religious Sectarians (North China, 1791-1814) 175

Case 17 Ji Yanghua: Secret Society Member (Shanxi, 1814) 201

Part VI Social Mobility and Crime 205

Case 18 Jin San: A Spurned Lover (Sichuan, 1728) 205

Case 19 Luo Fenpeng: A Phony Scholar-Official (Jiangxi, 1763) 218

Part VII Imperial Intervention 226

Case 20 Li Yuchang: AMagistrate Murdered for His Integrity (Jiangsu, 1809) 226

Appendix 1 Banners and Other Social Organizations 245

Appendix 2 Popular Religious Movements 247

Appendix 3 Cases Listed by Social Conflict 252

Chinese Character Glossary 255

Bibliography of Studies in English 271

Index 279