The Washing Away of Wrongs: Forensic Medicine in Thirteenth-Century China

Abstract

Translation of: Hsi yüan chi lu. Chapter I: 1. A List of Laws -- 2. General Discussion of Inquests: Part One -- 3. General Discussion of Inuquests: Part Two -- 4. Miscellaneous Discussion of Doubtful and Difficult Cases: Part One --Chapter II: 5. Miscellaneous Discussion of Doubtful and Difficult Cases: Part Two -- 6. The Initial Inquest -- 7. The Re-inquest -- 8. The Examination of Corpses -- 9. Women; Addenda: Corpses of Children and Fetuses -- 10. Decay of Corpses in the Four Seasons -- 11. On the Washing of Corpses and the Use of Mats -- 12. Examining Bodies That Have Not Been Buried -- 13. Examining Corpses Previously Buried or Encoffined in a House -- 14. Examining Decomposed Bodies -- 15. Holding Inquests on Bodies Too Decomposed to Serve as Evidence -- 16. Dehydrated Corpses or Corpses of Those Dead from Exhaustion -- Chapter III: 17. Examination of Bones -- 18. A Discussion of Bones and Blood Vessels in the Body, and the Location of Vital Spots -- 19. Suicide by Hanging -- 20. Deaths by Beating and Choking Passed Off as Suicide by Hanging -- 21. Death from Drowning -- Chapter IV: 22. Inquests on Those Killed by Hands, Feet, or Other Weapons -- 23. Suicides by Edged Weapons -- 24. Murderous Injuries -- 25. When the Head and Trunk are in Different Places -- 26. Death by Burning -- 27. Death from Scalding -- 28. Taking Poison -- 29. Death from Illness -- 30. Deaths from Acupuncture and Moxibustion -- 31. On the Recording of Depositions -- Chapter V: 32. Inquests on Dead Prisoners -- 33. Death from Corporal Punishment -- 34. Deaths from Falls -- 35. Death from Being Crushed -- 36. Death from Suffocation -- 37. Prodding to Death -- 38. Trampling to Death by Horse or Buffalo -- 39. Crushed to Death by Cart Wheels -- 40. Death from Lightning -- 41. Death from Tiger Bites -- 42. Deaths from Snake, Reptile, or Insect Bites -- 43. Deaths from Overeating or Overdrinking -- 44. Deaths from Internal Injuries Resulting from Being Pummeled after Eating or Drinking to Excess -- 45. Deaths from Sexual Excess -- 46. Roadside Deaths -- 47. Death after Which the Victim Has Lain Supine Overnight, in Which There Is a Slight Red Coloration -- 48. Injuries Inflicted after Death by Insects, Rats, or Dogs -- 49. Opening of Graves -- 50. Holding Inquests on Corpses in Neighboring Subprefectures -- 51. Methods for Dispersing Vileness -- 52. Methods for Restoring Life -- 53. Statements on the Inquest Report.