Carrying out of Punishments Under the T’ang Dynasty Criminal Law

Every legal system includes, as one of its main elements, a system of the implementation of sentences issued by the courts. However, the administration of punishments is always connected with violence against people, and sometimes even with their execution. The extent to which such violence was restricted so as to be acceptable to the collective sense of justice is an eloquent characteristic of the very concepts of justice inherent in culture as a whole. This article uses the example of the Chinese Tang dynasty criminal law to analyze what restrictions were provided by the traditional Chinese law for state violence against convicted criminals, and what penalties for government employees, who violated those restrictions.

JOHN BECKWITH (b. 1927)Five Lyrics of the T’ang Dynasty (1947)

This chapter discusses a brief early cycle by a distinguished senior Canadian composer, John Beckwith. The texts of its five parts are written by three different authors: Li Po, Wang-Wei, and Li Shang-Yin. The chapter considers this piece to be especially suitable for young singers, as it can give them every chance to shine. In addition, the poems’ delicate economy is mirrored in music which is direct in appeal, becoming fresh and natural. A subtly ‘oriental’ flavour is evoked by means of simple modality in the musical themes. The chapter describes how this piece can almost sing itself, since voice and piano writing is entirely idiomatic, and the modest proportions and range are not at all taxing.