Historians and scholars of Chinese and comparative literature look at the influence of the Ming and Qing dynasties (c. 1550-1911) legal culture on literature and the influence of literary conventions on the presentation of legal cases. Essays explore works of crime-case fiction, judicial handbooks for magistrates and legal secretaries, popular attitudes toward Buddhist monks and merchants as reflected in the plaints, the role of professional litigation masters, and the belief in a parallel, otherworldly judicial system.