Murder and adultery in Late Imperial China : A study of law and morality / Meijer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meijer, author.

Series:

Sinica Leidensia ; 25.

Sinica Leidensia Online, ISBN: 9789004498488.

Sinica Leidensia ; 25

Sinica Leidensia Online, ISBN: 9789004498488

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Adultery--China--History.

Adultery.

Law and ethics.

Murder--China--History.

Murder.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Other Title:

A study of law and morality

Place of Publication:

Leiden; Boston : BRILL, 1991.

Summary:

In this publication the development is traced of two sections of the chapter on "Homicide" of the penal code of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), Murder and Homicide of an Adulterer. The former deals with premeditated homicide where there is no difference in status, social or family relations between murderer and victim, while in the latter we find the husband who kills his wife and her paramour when caught in the act. In that case, the husband was immune from prosecution, provided that he commited the act at the time and at the site. The first section developed in a clear and intelligent way, with in general some logical provisions being added from the beginning till the end of the dynasty. The second section, however, was enriched by 34 additional articles through legislation and judicial practice, which with a view to promoting moral purity in society, gradually circumvented the original restrictions to the husband's fury. Consequently, by accentuating the husband's important status and for the sake of maintaining the established hierarchy in society, that section changed into a bad and cruel part of the law, turning the husband's behaviour from an excusable exception into morally justified conduct, and likewise the woman's misbehaviour into a mortal sin. This has all been confirmed by the motivation of the legislation and sentences of the cases.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / M.J. Meijer

Acknowledgements / M.J. Meijer

Introduction / M.J. Meijer

Chapter One General Remarks / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Two The Section Entitled "Mousha" (Murder) / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Three Legislation about Illicit Sexual Intercourse / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Four Responsibility of the Husband for the Homicide of the Adulteress / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Five Responsibility for Homicide of the Adulterer / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Six The Reaction of the Guilty / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Seven The Relatives / M.J. Meijer

Chapter Eight Survey and Conclusions / M.J. Meijer

Appendix / M.J. Meijer

Glossary / M.J. Meijer

Bibliography / M.J. Meijer

Index / M.J. Meijer.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Murder and adultery in Late Imperial China : A study of law and morality.

ISBN:

9789004482883

9789004092730

OCLC:

645760058

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004482883 DOI

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.