Cambridge Library Collection - East and South-East Asian History: Ta Tsing Leu Lee; Being the Fundamental Laws, and a Selection from the Supplementary Statutes, of the Penal Code of China

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.