{"product_id":"crime-and-punishment-in-ancient-china-tang-yin-pi-shih-court-cases","title":"Crime and Punishment in Ancient China: T'ang-Yin-Pi-Shih - Court Cases","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Crime and Punishment in Ancient China, the reviewer finds a focused, scholarly compendium valuable to readers interested in historical legal practice. Compiled in the 13th century, the T'ang-Yin-Pi-Shih collects 144 criminal and civil court cases spanning some 1,400 years, and this edition presents those cases as a usable reference. The single biggest reason to pick up this book is its direct access to primary case materials that illuminate how scholar-officials acted as both investigators and judges in provincial courts, making it essential for history students, legal historians, and curious general readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrimary case collection:\u003c\/strong\u003e Contains 144 individual criminal and civil court cases that provide direct examples of judicial reasoning and outcomes over many centuries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong historical span:\u003c\/strong\u003e Covers roughly 1,400 years of Chinese legal practice beginning about 300 BC, offering perspective on continuity and change in judicial procedures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePractical reference for officials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reflects the original purpose of casebooks as guidance for scholar-officials, useful for researchers studying administrative and judicial roles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact compilation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brings together disparate cases into a single volume, saving time for anyone researching precedents or comparative legal history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContextual insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shows how officials with little formal legal training approached investigation and adjudication in provincial centers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is best for history scholars, legal historians, students of China, and readers who appreciate primary-source case material. It suits anyone researching judicial practice, magistrate duties, or the evolution of legal thought in imperial China.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is less appropriate for readers seeking a general narrative history with broad social context or a modern legal textbook; those audiences should look to syntheses that integrate case material with modern analysis and commentary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirect access to 144 documented cases offers authentic material for primary-source study.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide chronological range provides longitudinal perspective on legal practices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClarifies the dual investigative and judicial role of scholar-officials in provincial courts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful as a reference for precedent and historical procedure in ancient China.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial is specialized and may feel dense to casual readers without background in Chinese history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimited interpretive commentary in the original compilation means modern readers may need supplementary analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrime and Punishment in Ancient China: T'ang-Yin-Pi-Shih\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompiler\/Author\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRobert Hans Van Gulik (editor\/translator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e144 criminal and civil court cases\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistorical span\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 300 BC through 13th century compilation (approx. 1,400 years)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOriginal purpose\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCasebook guidance for scholar-officials serving as judges\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJudicial practice and precedents in ancient China\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrime and Punishment in Ancient China is a valuable primary-source compendium for students and scholars of Chinese legal and administrative history. Its collection of 144 cases gives direct insight into how magistrates handled investigation and judgment across centuries, making it good value as a reference volume for research and teaching, though casual readers may prefer a more interpretive introduction alongside this text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does this book contain?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book contains 144 criminal and civil cases compiled as the T'ang-Yin-Pi-Shih, providing original case material used by scholar-officials.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book suitable for general readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is primarily useful for students and researchers; general readers can read it but may need supplementary context or commentary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy are these cases important?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey show the practical role of scholar-officials as both investigators and judges and serve as precedent and guidance in provincial courts across centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robert Hans Van Gulik","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48645023432923,"sku":"9745241172","price":43.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/613Umz38aGL._SL1360.jpg?v=1778742010","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/crime-and-punishment-in-ancient-china-tang-yin-pi-shih-court-cases","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}