1. This article examines the Chinese law of the Ch'ing period at the trial level in one locality in China, using a unique archive.
2. It asserts that many prior conceptions of Chinese law of the Ch'ing period were inaccurate, and that civil cases did not usually result in punishment for the offenders nor were there long delays in the processing of civil matters.
3. The article also discusses how Western distortions of Chinese law cannot be explained other than by culturalmyopia, and how there were modifications for handling types of cases that would today be classified as civil.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides evidence to support its claims and draws on multiple sources to back up its assertions. The author cites numerous references throughout the text, including books, articles, dissertations, and reports from various universities and organizations. This demonstrates that they have done their research thoroughly and are knowledgeable about their subject matter.
However, there are some potential biases present in the article which should be noted. For example, the author does not explore any counterarguments or present both sides equally when discussing Western distortions of Chinese law. Additionally, some of the claims made may be unsupported or missing points of consideration which could lead to an incomplete understanding of the topic being discussed.
In conclusion, while this article is generally reliable and trustworthy due to its use of multiple sources to back up its claims, there are some potential biases present which should be taken into account when reading it.