The history and development of criminal responsibility of young people in Chinese criminal law

While literature abounds on youth crime in the context of historical and contemporary criminal law in Western jurisdictions, there is little focus on the legal history of young age markers in determining criminal responsibility or deciding just sentences in Chinese law. However, in Chinese criminal law, young offenders have been treated differently based on their age for a long time, going as far back as 3,000 years ago. The age of criminal liability is an important indicator in tracing such differences in criminal law and its development. Thus, this chapter addresses this by providing a comprehensive legal-historical overview of the recognition and development of young age markers in Chinese criminal law. In tracing this legal history, unique features of Chinese criminal law, with regard to how, when and to what extent the relatively young age of offenders has been and is recognised in the context of criminal legal proceedings, are highlighted. © The Editors and Contributing Authors Severally 2025.