Criminal Statutes

窦仪Jul 2024

4.3

Word count: 232K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and vast in scope. This series, "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Compiled under the leadership of Dou Yi, The Xingtong is a representative legal code among traditional legal documents. It is included in the "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series and presents the original text as it stands. Its value lies not in literary interest but in giving readers direct access to the organization of ancient legal provisions, the classification of offenses and the reasoning behind sentencing, which is very helpful for understanding traditional society's ideas of order and the operation of institutions. This book is suitable for targeted consultation or sequential study, not for reading as a story. Because the original text is tightly structured and full of terminology, and this edition focuses on preserving the original, annotation and modern translation may be limited; readers need some grounding in classical Chinese and legal history, or should read it alongside reference works and scholarly studies. When reading, first understand the overall chapter structure, then choose sections relevant to your interests for close reading, rather than spreading effort evenly from beginning to end.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and researchers in legal history and the history of legal systems
Readers of history and literature interested in ancient institutions and legal provisions
Practitioners or teachers who need to consult original texts of traditional legal documents
Self-learners with a foundation in classical Chinese who are willing to study with reference works

Not a good fit for

General readers without a foundation in classical Chinese who want plain-language introductory books
Beginners expecting detailed annotation, modern translation and scholarly guidance
People who only want light story reading and lack interest in legal provisions

Reading tips

First look at the table of contents and chapter structure to understand the overall framework, then choose sections related to your interests for close reading.
Read alongside reference works or scholarly studies on ancient legal history, and check terminology promptly when you encounter it.
Keep a notebook to sort out the relationships among offenses, punishments and provisions, and build your own consultation index.
Do not force yourself to read it all; study it in sessions by theme, focusing on one category of provisions at a time for easier digestion.

版权信息
卷一名例律
卷二名例律
卷三名例律
卷四名例律
卷五名例律
卷六名例律
卷七卫禁律
卷八卫禁律
卷九职制律
卷十职制律
卷十一职制律
卷十二户婚律
卷十三户婚律
卷十四户婚律
卷十五廏库律
卷十六擅与律
卷十七贼盗律
卷十八贼盗律
卷十九贼盗律
卷二十贼盗律
卷二十一斗讼律
卷二十三斗讼律
卷二十四斗讼律
卷二十五诈伪律
卷二十六杂律
卷二十七杂律
卷二十八捕亡律
卷二十九断狱律
卷三十断狱律

FAQ

Can I read this book without a background in legal history?

You can try, but it will be difficult. This book preserves the original text, and both terminology and structure require some background knowledge. It is advisable to first read one or two introductory works on ancient legal history to understand basic concepts and the historical context, then return to the original text; you will gain more.

Is this book suitable for reading from beginning to end?

Not really. The structure of a legal code is tight, and reading it straight through can be tiring and make it hard to grasp the key points. A more effective approach is to first understand the chapter structure, then select relevant sections by theme or interest for close reading, checking terminology with reference works and gradually building an overall understanding.

What auxiliary materials should I prepare for reading?

You may prepare a dictionary of ancient Chinese, a basic textbook on legal history, and related studies of institutional history. When you encounter unfamiliar terminology, first consult reference works, then understand it in context. If possible, read alongside an annotated anthology to reduce the difficulty of comprehension.

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About the author

窦仪 Author

Dou Yi is a figure worthy of attention in the history of ancient Chinese legal literature. Public information is limited: his native place, birth and death dates, and official career are not clearly recorded, but his surviving works suggest that he was active roughly in the early Song dynasty and deeply involved in the organization and codification of the law at that time. The library holds three of his works, including Song Jianlong Detailed Revision of the Xingtong: Song Xingtong, A Textual Study of the Song Xingtong, and Xingtong, all centered on the early Song criminal code. The first is directly connected with the compilation of the detailed revision of the Xingtong during the Jianlong era, showing that Dou Yi worked diligently on the determination and completion of the legal statutes. A Textual Study of the Song Xingtong reflects later scholars' collation and organization of the code, while Xingtong may be regarded as a different presentation of the same legal text. His writing is dominated by legal statutes, with a strict structure and concise wording, typical of code compilation. These works provide basic materials for the study of the evolution of Song legal institutions and have influenced later understanding of the traditional criminal law system. The library classifies them under literary appreciation and examinations, possibly reflecting their use for reading and study.