historical coroner; ancient Chinese forensic examiner
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
coroner; forensic examiner (in ancient China)
archaicRefers to an official position in imperial China responsible for examining corpses to determine cause of death, particularly in murder cases. Made famous in Song Ci's 'The Washing Away of Wrongs' (《洗冤集录》). This occupation is historical; the modern equivalent is 法医 (forensic doctor).
Sòng宋
dài代
de的
wǔ仵
zuò作
xū需
yào要
zhǎng掌
wò握
xiáng详
xì细
de的
yàn验
shī尸
jì技
shù术
。
Coroners in the Song Dynasty needed to master detailed corpse examination techniques.
Guān官
fǔ府
pài派
wǔ仵
zuò作
qù去
jiǎn检
yàn验
nà那
jù具
wú无
míng名
nán男
shī尸
。
The authorities sent a coroner to examine that unidentified male corpse.
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《
Xǐ洗
Yuān冤
Jí集
Lù录
》
shì是
shì世
jiè界
shàng上
zuì最
zǎo早
de的
fǎ法
yī医
xué学
zhù著
zuò作
，
xiáng详
xì细
jì记
zǎi载
le了
wǔ仵
zuò作
de的
jiǎn检
yàn验
fāng方
fǎ法
。
'The Washing Away of Wrongs' is the world's earliest forensic medicine text, documenting coroners' examination methods in detail.