Judge Bao And The Rule Of Law: Eight Ballad-stories From The Period 1250-1450

by Wilt Lukas Idema

Overview

Pure, orthodox and incorruptible, Judge Bao has been serving as the preeminent embodiment of justice in China for almost a thousand years, so much so his court cases have been adapted as stories, novels and plays over the centuries. Now, for the very first time a series of eight ballad-stories on Judge Bao, dating from the period 1250-1450, are offered in a complete and annotated translation. These texts will provide the reader a reflection of the legend of Judge Bao in its earliest phase of development, with an extended introduction placing the ballad-stories in context with the development of the Judge Bao legend. These ballad-stories, in contrast to past plays dating from the same period, present abuse of power and corruption as endemic in the courts and bureaucratic service, and show Judge Bao imposing the rule of law even on the emperor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814277013
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/30/2009
Pages:	456
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

Note on the Translations xxxv

Chapter 1 The Tale of the Early Career of Rescriptor Bao 1

Chapter 2 Judge Bao Selling Rice in Chenzhou 31

Chapter 3 The Tale of the Humane Ancestor Recognizing his Mother 67

Chapter 4 Dragon-Design Bao Sentences the White Weretiger 105

Chapter 5 Rescriptor Bao Decides the Case of the Weird Black Pot 133

Chapter 6 The Tale of the Case of Dragon-Design Bao Sentencing the Emperor's Brothers-in-law Cao 197

Chapter 7 The Tale of Zhang Wengui. Part One 277

The Tale of Zhang Wengui. Part Two 309

Chapter 8 The Story of How Shi Guanshou's Wife Liu Dusai on the Night of the Fifteenth, on Superior Prime, Watched the Lanterns. Part One 347

The Story of the Judgment of Dragon-Design Bao in the Case of Prince Zhao and Sun Wenyi. Part Two 375

Glossary 403

Bibliography 411