This series delves into the intricacies of China's legal system, society, and culture through a fresh lens. Utilizing newly accessible archival records and judicial materials, it examines how actual legal practices diverged from official and popular conceptions. The studies explore the intricate connections between law, state, and society, revealing the complex dynamics of the Chinese socio-political landscape. By intertwining social, economic, and cultural history, each contribution offers a unique perspective on the nation's past and present.
This study of the regulation of sexuality in the Qing dynasty explores the social context for sexual behavior criminalized by the state, showing how regulation shifted away from status to a new regime of gender that mandated a uniform standard of sexual morality and criminal liability for all people, regardless of their social status.