RAS Shanghai – 31/3/12 – Homicide, Homosexual Rape, and the Pursuit of Justice in Early 19th Century China

RAS WEEKENDER

Saturday 31st March 2012 at 4:00pm

No.8 Xintiandi North Part Lane 181 Taicang Road Shanghai

Address in Chinese: 太仓路181弄,新天地广场北里8号,T8餐厅

PROFESSOR JEFFREY RIEGEL

on

Homicide, Homosexual Rape, and the Pursuit of Justice

in Early 19th Century China

Early nineteenth century Qing legal documents illustrate how judicial authorities struggled with and openly debated questions around how to make punishments fit the crimes of homicide and homosexual rape. In the course of their deliberations these officials reveal interesting insights into Qing dynasty attitudes toward same-sex relations, the equality of men and women, and the role of compassion in systems of adjudication. While Qing laws were generally promulgated to benefit the emperor and the state, they were interpreted and refined to reflect the realities of society and human nature.

Professor Jeffrey Riegel is Professor and Head of School of the School of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts, Sydney University. Most of his 34-year academic career was spent at the University of California, Berkeley. He retired from the position of Agassiz Professor of Chinese in 2007. He travels frequently to China and has long been committed to helping bring about a greater understanding of China.