The Projection of the Xiezhi in Chinese Legal Culture

Author: Guo Jian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Projection of the Xi Ze is a systematic work that interprets Chinese legal culture. Law is a clearly defined social norm, and an ideal law should be highly precise. However, many issues related to law, such as why people obey the law, why certain laws exist, and how people are corrected by law, lack precise boundaries. In actual judicial and enforcement processes, the ideal of precision is highly questionable. "Legal culture" precisely addresses these imprecise aspects. In fact, all of Guo Jian's legal works elaborate on legal culture, with this book being more specific and systematic. The "Xi Ze" (pronounced xiezhi) is a mythical single-horned beast in Chinese legend, used by the ancient judge Gao Yao (pronounced gaoyao) when adjudicating cases. When faced with indecisive cases, the beast would use its horn to touch the party at fault. Xu Shen, in his Shuowen Jiezi, determined that the Chinese character for "law" (fa) originates from this horned beast. The aspiration for fair and just laws is also embodied in this creature. Guo Jian begins with an interpretation of this beast, introducing and analyzing China's legal culture from various perspectives, such as the unbroken tradition of legal codes, the satisfying "three great executioners," and the layered image of incorruptible officials. By combining the interpretation of traditional Chinese law with intellectual history, folk history, social history, and literary art, he creates a rich and vivid picture that is both engaging and enlightening.