The primary goal of this book is to consider the ways in which religious beliefs and practices have contributed to the formation of Chinese legal culture. It does so by describing two forms of overlap between religion and the law: the ideology of justice and the performance of judicial rituals. The former extends to the ways in which the gods control all human affairs in this life and the next in order to ensure the attainment of justice. The latter may be found in the realm of practice, and involves instances when men and women perform judicial rituals like oaths, chicken-beheadings, and underworld indictments in order to enhance the legitimacy of their positions, deal with cases of perceived injustice, and resolve disputes. Individuals ranging from high-ranking officials to commoners have performed judicial rituals for centuries. Such rites have also shaped the legal histories of overseas Chinese in colonies like Batavia, the Straits Settlements, and Hong Kong, as well as those who migrated to countries like Australia and the United States. In Taiwan, a high-tech democracy with a vibrant civil society, judicial rituals remain an integral component of legal practice.

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