Strange Stories From A Chinese Studio.

Summary

In the Shun Zhi era, seven out of ten people were thieves in the Teng and Yi regions, with local officials reluctant to arrest them. The magistrate labeled them the "Thieves' Household" and would often side with them in disputes. People began falsely claiming membership in this group to gain advantages, leading to complex legal battles where the authenticity of being a thief became the central issue. A bizarre courtroom incident involving a trapped Hu spirit shouting "I am a Thief!" highlighted the absurdity of these social dynamics, prompting the Chronicler of Odd Histories to comment on the shifting societal norms and moral ambiguity.

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