Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 42
Title	To Examine Li Bai’s forever exile (chang liu) to Ye Lang from Legal Point of View
Author	Chan Chun -keung
Page	21-50
Abstract	The purpose of this article is to examine Li Bai’s （李白）banishment to Ye Lang（夜郎） from legal point of view. We attempted to assess it from Li’s crime, his punishment received and finally an amnesty from the Emperor. 　　Rebellion plotted by Prince Yong（永王璘） was the result of the power struggle between the Emperor –Xuan Zong（玄宗） & his son – Su Zong（肅 宗） after the｀coup d’ etat of Ma-wei post station’（馬嵬之變）. Li worked for Prince Yong, hence, he was assumed as one of the members of the rebel force, and bound to receive capital punishment. Fortunately, Li was rescued by his friends and remitted by Su Zong but specially exiled forever (chang liu 長流)to Ye Lang. Chang liu was not an ordinary banishment .This was a replacement to capital punishment and unless specifically announced by Emperor, otherwise he could not be released even though under a general pardon as well as never allowed to return to the native place. 　　Li started the banishment in the spring of the first year of Qian Yuen (乾元 758), and reached Ye Lang in winter that year. He stayed there for 3 years. Till September of 2nd year of Shang Yuen (上元 761), Su Zong granted an amnesty, it specified that criminals were implicated in rebellion crimes between Kai Yuen （開元） and first year of Qian Yuen, and was not included in the previous amnesties, could be released. Under this condition, Li Bai was set free.
Keyword	Tang Dynasty, Tang Code, Li Bai, chang liu, Ye Lang, banishment, amnesty, Prince Yong
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