Social Power and Legal Culture: Litigation Masters in Late Imperial China (Law, Society, and Culture in China)

Name: Social Power and Legal Culture: Litigation Masters in Late Imperial China (Law, Society, and Culture in China)
Price: 90.00 USD
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Book Synopsis: Asserting that litigation in late imperial China was a form of documentary warfare, this book offers a social analysis of the men who composed legal documents for commoners and elites alike. Litigation masters—a broad category of legal facilitators ranging from professional plaintmasters to simple but literate men to whom people turned for assistance—emerge in this study as central players in many of the most scandalous cases in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century China. These cases reveal the power of scandal to shape entire categories of law in the popular and official imaginations.

The author characterizes litigation masters as entrepreneurs of power, intermediaries who typically emerge in the process of limited state expansion to provide links between local interests and the infrastructure of the state. These powermongers routinely acted in the interests of the local elite and the male lineage. But cases preserved in criminal archives also reveal a clientele surprisingly composed of the subordinate actors in legal disputes—widows fighting in-laws and other men, debtors contesting creditors, younger brothers disputing older ones, and common people charging the rich. Challenging earlier scholarship claiming that the Chinese legal system simply maintained the hegemony of elites and the patriarchal order, this study shows how the legal tools of domination were often transformed into weapons of social resistance and revenge.

The book also examines the manifold ways in which legal practice, Confucian ideology, and popular entertainments like opera and storytelling coalesced into Chinese legal culture. Popular traditions in particular did not simply reflect legal culture but actively influenced it, shaping common presumptions about law that transcended differences of class and region. Exploring Chinese legal culture in the structural contexts of commercialization, changes in property transactions, and ineradicable litigation backlogs, the author explains why litigation was condemned by all classes of Chinese men and women even as all classes litigated.

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Are you fascinated by legal systems and historical cultures? Dive into an enthralling exploration of litigation in late imperial China with "Social Power and Legal Culture: Litigation Masters in Late Imperial China." This captivating book offers a social analysis of the men who composed legal documents, providing insights into the power dynamics and scandals of the time. Discover how scandal shaped categories of law and how litigation masters acted as entrepreneurs of power, bridging local interests and the state infrastructure. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the transformative nature of legal tools in Chinese society. Order now and embark on a journey through the fascinating world of Chinese legal culture.

Uncover the hidden stories of scandal and resistance in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century China with "Social Power and Legal Culture: Litigation Masters in Late Imperial China." This extraordinary book challenges conventional beliefs about the Chinese legal system, revealing how legal tools were transformed into weapons of social resistance and revenge. From widows fighting in-laws to debtors contesting creditors, the cases preserved in criminal archives expose a diverse clientele seeking justice. Explore the intersections of Confucian ideology, popular entertainments, and legal practice, and understand how they shaped Chinese legal culture. Order your copy of "Social Power and Legal Culture" today and delve into a world of intrigue and transformation. Get yours now.

Unlock the secrets of power and scandal in late imperial China with "Social Power and Legal Culture: Litigation Masters in Late Imperial China." This eye-opening book reveals the true forces at play behind legal disputes in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century China. Amidst the backdrop of limited state expansion, litigation masters emerged as influential intermediaries, advocating for the interests of the local elites and the male lineage. However, their clientele was not limited to the privileged few. Widows, debtors, and common people all sought their assistance in seeking justice. Immerse yourself in the intricate web of Chinese legal culture, where societal norms clashed with the pursuit of truth. Take the first step into this captivating world by ordering "Social Power and Legal Culture" today. Order now and experience the complexities of Chinese legal practice.

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