Commentary
The first paragraph is the closest thing to a preamble, explaining why the laws were being written. It shows how council members disagreed (remembered different minds) on what the traditional law was. Don't interpret this as slave rights; the Pe Yansi case was probably the last straw of many cases of differing judicial memory
|
Pe Yansi sued his slave at law.
The council remembered different minds. They wrote the law on stone [so it] wouldn't be argued over. There will be three classes: council, people, king. The council will make the laws to protect the people. The king will make the army to protect the people. The council will replace [impeach] the king at his successor's birthday. The king chooses the council members. |