Machine derived contents note: 1. Introduction: history and law -- 2. Danshui and Xinhu during the Qing dynasty: the geographical and historical context -- 3. The frontier heritage -- 4. Land relations -- 5. The export economy -- 6. Lineage division and inheritance disputes -- 7. The petition -- 8. Search and arrest: the warrant -- 9. Hearing and verdict -- 10. Conclusion: law and society
Summary
This study of northern Taiwan during the period 1840-1895 explores the social significance of the traditional Chinese legal system and investigates how individuals utilized the courts to resolve criminal and civil disputes. The received wisdom portrays the court system as a seldom utilized, desperate last resort, and as closed except to the privileged. In reality, this book reveals that litigants included men and women of both low and high status and that local inhabitants were not slow to appeal to the court system for dispute resolution
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages [315]-330) and index