The Formation, Evolution, and Transformation of Punishments in the Qing Dynasty: Focusing on Receiving Training and Instruction

Punishment in the Qing Dynasty, especially the transformation of punishment, has long been a field of academic interest. However, existing research on the transformation of punishment in the Qing Dynasty is mostly confined to the late Qing legal reform period, emphasizing the impact and influence of external penal theories, and to a certain extent, neglecting the Qing Dynasty's practice of autonomously adjusting and creating punishments. This makes it difficult to show the internal logic and inherent rationale of penal changes in the Qing Dynasty. In the 28th year of Guangxu (1902), Zhao Erxun, acting governor of Shanxi, first proposed the concept of "rehabilitation through labor in institutions" in his memorial requesting the establishment of prisoner vocational training centers in all provinces. This concept, meaning "to be admitted to an institution to learn skills and work," became a turning point in the transformation of punishment in the Qing Dynasty. This book intends to take theft as a starting point, focusing on the core concept of "rehabilitation through labor in institutions," to connect crimes, punishments, and prison administration, presenting a complete picture of the transformation of punishment in the Qing Dynasty from corporal punishment to deprivation of liberty. It aims to reveal the Qing Dynasty's own responses to the failure of traditional punishments and the impact of external ideas, as well as its role and influence in the modernization of punishment. This book is based on the author's doctoral dissertation, which won the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from Renmin University of China (2022) and the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award of the 5th "Zeng Xianyi Legal History Scholarship" (2021). Its academic level has been recognized by both the university and the academic community.