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In all corpse examinations, the causes of death are generally limited to injuries from blades or other objects during fights, blows with fists and feet, hanging by self-strangulation, strangulation by another, drowning by jumping into water, being drowned by another, or death due to illness. However, strangulation can resemble hanging; drowning can resemble jumping into water; in a fight, death may occur within the legal liability period but actually result from pre-existing illness; servants or maids may harm themselves or hang themselves after being beaten by their masters. The circumstances are myriad and complex, constituting difficult cases. One must examine carefully at the time and never be hasty; a slight error leads to a huge mistake.

When examining difficult corpses, such as those pierced by sharp objects, one must inspect both internal and external wounds: the larger opening is where the blade entered, and the smaller one is where it passed through. If the corpse is decomposed, one must examine the original clothing and compare it with the injury sites.

If a corpse is lying face down and has a short blade or bamboo shard from the throat to below the navel on the right hand, it is likely that the person fell while drunk and injured themselves by falling on the object. If there are high places or mud nearby, check for valuables or signs of struggle on the body, as it might be an accidental injury while retrieving something.

When examining women, if there are no obvious external injuries, check the vaginal opening, as a knife may have been inserted internally from there. If the wound is superficial, there will be slight blood seepage above and below the navel; if deep, there will be none. This often occurs among solitary individuals or beggar women.

For men, check the vertex of the head for flat-headed nails, and the anus for hard objects inserted. This often happens among travelers, particularly involving older men and younger women.

If a corpse shows no marks on the body but has a cyanotic or dark complexion, or swelling on one side, it is likely caused by suffocation using an object over the mouth and nose, or strangulation with a handkerchief or cloth bag without leaving visible marks. Check if the neck muscles are rigid. Crucially, inspect the hands and feet for signs of beating or binding, check the tongue for bite marks, and examine the anal and urethral openings for bruising from trampling. If none of these are present, then check for saliva in the mouth and swelling in the throat. Saliva and swelling suggest death from *Chantou Feng* (Peritonsillar Abscess/Suffocating Throat Wind), which requires detailed verification.

If many people fought and then dispersed, some might go near rivers or ponds to wash blood off their faces or drink water. Being exhausted from the fight or dizzy from drunkenness, they might fall in and drown. If alive upon entering the water, the corpse's abdomen will be bloated, sand and mud found under the fingernails, and hands extended forward. These signs clearly indicate drowning. Even if there are bruises from fighting, do not assume they are fatal; record them in the report but conclude death by drowning. Although injuries may be in vital areas, legal liability periods (*Guxian*) apply. According to law, if death occurs within or outside this period due to other causes, judgment follows specific rules regarding the initial assault. (Note: "Other causes" refers to death resulting from additional complications.) Since the cause is drowning, despite any marks, the actual cause is clear. Former examiners who attributed death to unconsciousness from head injuries leading to falling into water, and treated the head injury as fatal, often faced endless appeals from defendants.

Similarly, if people disperse after a fight and fall from heights, causing death, the examination should focus on the height of the fall and the impact injuries at vital points. It is essential to investigate witnesses who saw the fight disperse.

In cases of death resulting from disputes where no external marks are found, determining the fatal site is challenging. This is often due to the victim's pre-existing chronic conditions or qi disorders, or intoxication before the fight. Provocation during the dispute may lead to sudden qi stagnation and death. In such cases, the testicles may retract upwards and disappear. To verify, soak clothes or cotton in warm vinegar water, apply to the lower abdomen for the duration of a meal, and have the coroner press the lower abdomen. The testicles should descend, confirming the diagnosis. Then, carefully inspect for any vital injuries.

Historically, A and B traveled together. B had belongings, and A desired them. A led B to a river to cross. Mid-stream, A held B underwater until death, leaving no marks. How to verify? Examine the corpse: emaciated, blackened fingernails, sand/mud in nails and nostrils, red chest, blue lips, and bloated abdomen. These indicate B was held underwater by A. Investigate A's motive and look for stolen goods to confirm this conclusion infallibly.

Elderly persons can also die from suffocation by hand pressure without external marks.

A villager sent his nephew and a neighbor's son to clear land for millet with hoes. They did not return after two nights. Upon investigation, both were found dead in the mountains. The case was reported. Their clothes were intact, and an official examiner was summoned. At the scene, one corpse was outside a small hut with a broken posterior neck bone and blade wounds on the head and face; the other was inside the hut with blade wounds on the left neck and right occiput. Witnesses said the one outside died first from wounds, and the one inside committed suicide later. The authorities, seeing wounds on both and no missing valuables, ruled it a mutual killing. One examiner disagreed, stating: "If we judge by human nature, mutual killing is possible; however, the wound on the right occiput of the one inside is suspicious. Who can use a blade on their own back of the head easily?" Within days, a murderer holding a grudge against both was caught. The county case was clarified, reported to the prefecture, and justice was served. Otherwise, the two冤 (injustices) would never be resolved. Generally, in mutual killings, if other marks are unambiguous, they serve as evidence for examination. Precision and dedication are paramount; errors must be avoided.