Qing Dynasty Court Cases
The first China laws were formulated from the emerged traditions, customs, and declaration for the rulers of the regions at that time that formed the dynasty. The purpose of the first written code of laws in 536 B.C was to maintain order and control over the people in the regime. Different issues forwarded to the law courat at that time were judged based on the written codes. Qing Dynasty was established in 221 B.C. where it brought a transformation in the China region by setting up the first Chinese Empire, which was ruled by an emperor (Costly 6). The primary idea behind the written law code was to ensure fair treatment of all the residents of the dynasty while eliminating the privileges that were accorded to the people of high status. Moreover, the written code was aimed at preventing crime in the community and punishing the offenders of the law. The codes of law were written as a basic set of instructions to the official involved with the judgment cases known as the magistrates. The codes were also addressed to the high authorities. Instructions in this written format were arranged based on severity with an attempt of stating possible punishment for all offenses.
Use of a stick was one of the written code of punishing the offenders. However, it was meant for light offenses. The instruction demanded the offender to receive ten to fifty strokes based on the offense (Costly 7). The purpose of this punishment was to publicly shame the offender and physically punish them by inflicting pain. The magistrates knew that by this punishment, the society would restrain from offenses since they would not wish for such a public humiliation. Besides, the offender would less likely repeat another offense. Probably this was a fair judgment since it did not hurt the offender through injuries or such. Beating with a heavy bamboo stick was another level of punishment imposed on the offenders. Unlike the first penalty, the criminals were heavily beaten with a heavy bamboo stick. Such strokes ranged from sixty to one hundred (Costly 10). However, there was a decision by the Qing to reduce the number of strokes. Although this punishment was well formulated, it would not be ideal for some gender and age groups considering the impact of the punishment on overall physique.
The penal servitude has some similarities with the up to date correction facilities punishment procedure. The offenders and even some witnesses were held in lockups until the final judgment was made. Offenders were entitled to forced labor in different regions where they also received a heavy punishment of a heavy bamboo beatings of about sixty to one hundred strokes (Costly 7). This form of punishment would be recommendable for heavy crime offenders where the period spent doing the punishment would give the offender an opportunity to improve on their misconduct. The exile for life was another judgment in the court cases. Offenders were sent to a distant land to live they would live and never come back to their ancestral lands. Such judgments would be meaningful for offenders who are not likely to readapt a responsible living. For some leaders who it would not be appropriate to inflict death penalty, this was the form of punishment rendered.
The final and most severe punishment in the Qing Dynasty was the death penalty. There were different degrees of such punishment, which include strangulation with a cord, beheading, and slicing. Such punishment was for the wicked offenders who were involved in murders cases among other atrocious offenses (Costly 7). Based on the human rights, this would not be an appropriate sentencing since all people have a right to live.
Works Cited
Costly, Andrew. “The Great Qing Code: Law and Order during China’s Last Dynasty.” Bill of Rights in Action 30.3 (2014): 5-11.
