The Song Dynasty Civilization Behind the A Yun Case

This is the latest book by the author of Another Half of Chinese History. Starting with the famous case of A Yun killing her husband in Dengzhou, Shandong, in the fourth year of the Zhiping era under Emperor Shenzong of Song, the book explores marriage customs, women's status, and the judicial system of the Song Dynasty. It seeks to explain the rule-of-law tradition within Song civilization, as well as its limitations, by telling Song history through the lens of a small case.

The A Yun case, also known as the A Yun legal case, was a seemingly minor affair that nevertheless involved numerous judges and renowned officials, including Sima Guang, Wang Anshi, Lü Gongzhu, Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, and Tang Jie. It even prompted Emperor Shenzong of Song to issue four successive edicts, and sparked debate for more than a decade. Even today, the “A Yun legal case” remains a hot topic in academia. Who was right, Sima Guang or Wang Anshi? Was the case a legal dispute or a political struggle? Should the state impose harsh punishments or lenient ones when drafting laws? What changes took place in women's status, and in what respects? These are all questions worth considering.