Abstract：The term “nichan (the traitor’s property)” was first explicitly put forward and used in Ming Dynasty, while its origin could be traced back to the property of people convicted of treason during the Warring States period. Following the tradition of Ming Dynasty, people in Qing Dynasty used “nichan” to refer to rebels’ property. Confiscation of a rebel’s property became an ordinance then. From the Revolution of 1911 to the Anti-Japanese War, “nichan” referred to the property of traitorous warlords, counterrevolutionaries, corrupt officials, local tyrants and evil gentry. During the Anti-Japanese War and the early postwar period, “nichan” mainly referred to the property of hanjian (people working for Japanese invaders). During the War of Liberation and the early days of the new China, “nichan” was classified into two types. Old ‘nichan” were the property of hanjian, and new “nichan” referred to the property of civil and military officials of the Nationalist Party, counterrevolutionaries, local despots, leading agents and so on. Governments of all ages used the definition and disposition of “nichan” as an important means for regime survival and the establishment of the government authority, and used their own political needs as the basis for the interpretation of “nichan”. The difference is that the disposition and use of “nichan” evolved with time as society develops and people’s legal awareness is strengthened. Progress in this regard is reflected in the elimination of unreasonable elements in confiscation system, the introduction of legal sense, and stronger human rights awareness. “Nichan” was no longer monopolized by royals, but increasingly taken for public use. Instead of being confiscated by military and government, much more “nichan” is now used for public welfare.
2016, Vol. 33 
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