Female Judicial Images in the Peking Gazette of The North-China Herald from a Western Perspective
Abstract：In traditional perceptions, women in Chinese traditional society were often regarded as a vulnerable group in legal cases and judicial practices, portrayed as weak, submissive, and dependent. However, upon examining female judicial cases in the Peking Gazette section of The North-China Herald in the late Qing Dynasty, the author find that from a Western perspective, Chinese women were not entirely disadvantaged. They often leveraged their status to actively engage in judicial activities, advocating for their own or relatives' rights. The records also include many instances of female criminality. By analyzing these cases, the author aim to challenge existing academic views and present a more comprehensive picture of the diversity and complexity of female images in late Qing judicial practices.