Ta Tsing Leu Lee; Being the Fundamental Laws, and a Selection from the Supplementary Statutes, of the Penal Code of China

Published in 1810, this is the first-ever translation, by a leading sinologist, of the Qing Dynasty's legal code into English.

George Thomas Staunton (Edited and translated by)

9781108045865, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 April 2012

670 pages, 1 b/w illus.
29.7 x 21 x 3.4 cm, 1.58 kg

The sinologist George Thomas Staunton (1781–1859) learned Chinese as a child and accompanied his father on a trip to China in 1792 where, though the Ambassador's page, he was the only member of the delegation who could speak to the emperor in Chinese. A career in the East India Company's Canton factory followed, and he translated many texts between Chinese and English, including this penal code, published in 1810, which was its first translation into any European language. The 'Fundamental Laws' was the legal code of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), and contained more than 1,000 statutes. Staunton organised his translation of a selection of the laws into seven divisions: general, civil, fiscal, ritual (religious), military, criminal and public works. He also includes an appendix with translations of edicts regarding matters such as punishment, making this compendium an invaluable guide to the complex legal regime of the Qing Dynasty.

Translator's preface
Preliminary matter
First Division. General Laws: 1. Preliminary regulations
Second Division. Civil Laws: 1. System of government
2. Conduct of the magistrates
Third Division. Fiscal Laws: 1. Enrolment of the People
2. Lands and tenements
3. Marriage
4. Public property
5. Duties and customs
6. Private property
7. Sales and markets
Fourth Division. Ritual Laws: 1. Sacred rites
2. Miscellaneous observances
Fifth Division. Military Laws: 1. Protection of the palace
2. Government of the army
3. Protection of the frontier
4. Military horses and cattle
5. Expresses and public posts
Sixth Division. Criminal Laws: 1. Robbery and theft
2. Homicide
3. Quarrelling and fighting
4. Abusive language
5. Indictments and informations
6. Bribery and corruption
7. Forgeries and frauds
8. Incest and adultery
9. Miscellaneous offences
10. Arrests and escapes
11. Imprisonment, judgment and execution
Seventh Division. Laws Relative to Public Works: 1. Public buildings
2. Public ways
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]