Page "Song Dynasty" Paragraph 30

The Song judicial system retained most of the legal code of the earlier Tang Dynasty, the basis of traditional Chinese law up until the modern era.

Roving sheriffs maintained law and order in the municipal jurisdictions and occasionally ventured into the countryside.

Official magistrates overseeing court cases were not only expected to be well-versed in written law but also to promote morality in society.

Magistrates such as the famed Bao Qingtian ( 999 – 1062 ) embodied the upright, moral judge who upheld justice and never failed to live up to his principles.

Song judges specified the guilty person or party in a criminal act and meted out punishments accordingly, often in the form of caning.

A guilty individual or parties brought to court for a criminal or civil offense were not viewed as wholly innocent until proven otherwise, while even accusers were viewed with a high level of suspicion by the judge.

Due to costly court expenses and immediate jailing of those accused of criminal offenses, people in the Song preferred to settle disputes and quarrels privately, without the court's interference.