Yang Sanjie's Lawsuit Case

In 1918, in Luan County, Republic of China, Yang Erjie was murdered by her husband Gao Zhanying and his sister-in-law due to an illicit affair. The Gao family claimed she died of illness and hastily buried her. Yang Sanjie, the victim's determined teenage sister, suspected foul play and filed a lawsuit. After the county court was bribed and ruled against her, she escalated the case to the Zhili High Court in Tianjin. With support from Prosecutor Yang Yide, a public exhumation and autopsy revealed multiple knife wounds, contradicting the claim of natural death. Her relentless pursuit of justice overcame initial corruption, exposing the truth and establishing her as a symbol of civilian resistance.

The Zhili High Court overturned the initial verdict. Gao Zhanying was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging in 1919.

Whether Yang Erjie died from a sudden illness as claimed by the Gao family, or was murdered by her husband. The core dispute centered on the integrity of the judicial process, with allegations of bribery influencing the initial county ruling and preventing a proper autopsy.

The case exposed severe judicial corruption in the early Republic of China and highlighted the difficulties ordinary citizens faced in seeking justice. Yang Sanjie's bravery is celebrated as a symbol of perseverance. The story was famously adapted into the classic Ping Opera "Yang Sanjie's Accusation", significantly raising public awareness about legal rights and inspiring generations.