Qinhan Ting Wei New Exploration

This thesis, from different aspects, researches the questions about responsibilities and functions of justices of Qin and Han dynasties, based on some history documents including Shi ji, Han Shu, Hou Han Shu and so on, combined with works of famous scholars. This thesis consists of six parts. The first part traces the origin of the justice and points out there were justices long long ago which took important responsibilities to keep the country stable then. From slave to feudal society, not only the names of the justice often varied, but also its responsibilities and functions became important increasingly. Especially in Qin dynasty, QinShi emperor ruled the country and people by law, so the justice was paid more attention to. The second part lays out all kinds of subordinates. Subordinates of the justice expanded continuously, as social relations and responsibilities of the justice became more complicated and was more great. They played important role in maintaining the rule of the country. The third part studies various responsibilities of the justice in detail. I wrote it most seriously, especially for dealing with the 搃mperial case?which is the most important responsibilities of the justice. Besides, the justice take other responsibilities such as making laws, taking part in arguments, ruling prisons, etc. The forth part tells the functions of the justice in national political and economical activities. In Qin and Han dynasties, many justices can deal with various cases by law about different classes of the society, in particular, limiting emperors? power in a sense, which is one of reasons of Han becoming one of strongest dynasties. The fifth part tells the demands for the justice. Because the justice had great influence on the country, it was very careful to select the justice from all kinds of civil and military officials. The sixth part tells other central judicial organs, showing the fact that there were different organizations to try cases and draw up laws and judicial system was not complete.