Public Opinion,Emotion And Judicial Trial

Xi Shangzhen,a young female employee of the Shanghai Business newspaper,hanged herself in the office of manager Tang Jiezhi,On the evening of September 9,1922,This can be called Xi Shangzhen committed suicide(hereinafter referred to as the "Xi case").After reports by the mass media and vigorous publicity by social organizations such as the Dongting Dongshan countrymen Association in Jiangsu Province,public opinion continues to follow up on the causes of Xi Shangzhen’s suicide.Xi Shangzhen’s suicide has been widely concerned by the society.This paper focuses on the "seat case" in Shanghai during the period of the Republic of China,and makes an in-depth study from the multi-dimensions of public opinion,emotion and judicial trial.On the basis of combing the case in detail,this paper excavates the public opinion factors in the case,focusing on the analysis of three main social forces,namely,newspapers and media,social organizations and some non-governmental figures.Through the analysis of the attitude and behavior of the three forces in the case,this paper shows the game of interests between the parties,and expounds the position of the three forces in the case,in which the subjects representing different interests promote the trial of the case.After the occurrence of the case,the media’s attention to the case guided the trend of public opinion,and Tang Jiezhi was condemned by public opinion.This is not only related to the nature of the case,but also related to media reports.The media plays a vital role in the dissemination and shaping of the case.During the trial of the case,Dongting Dongshan fellow villagers’ Association and some non-governmental people actively appealed,so that public opinion finally gathered into a more powerful voice,thinking that what Tang Jiezhi did was fraud and should be punished.In this case,public opinion formed a powerful force,and the public voice exerted pressure on the judge,forcing the judge to listen to public opinion and finally sentence Tang Jie to three years in prison.The reason why public opinion can be condensed into a strong voice is that people have gained great emotional power from Xi Shangzhen’s suicide.Xi Shangzhen’s suicide touched people’s inner compassion,and people denounced Tang Jiezhi’s behavior in order to maintain social justice.Through the discussion of the seat case,we can find out the special role of emotion,public opinion and law in the society of the Republic of China in the transitional period.In the seat case,what really aggregates and guides the voice of public opinion is the firm and simple emotional and moral concept in the hearts of the public,which is rooted in Chinese traditional culture.When people face such cases,they will naturally have "sympathy" for the weak party and anger at the actions of the aggrieved party.When individual emotions converge into collective emotions,and then trigger public opinion,it can affect the judicial trial.Public emotion is involved in social or legal affairs,which will become a profound moral authority,indicating that this new public group representing justice and the pursuit of democracy is gradually formed,and affects social development.