Fingerprints in ancient China - A mini-review.

Abstract

Fingerprints are well-known and reliable means of identification in forensic sciences and security technology. Literature that covers the history of fingerprints often refers to ancient Chinese knowledge on this topic. The earliest use of fingerprints, indeed, can be traced back to the Zhou dynasty (, 1046-256 BCE), and the first documented use of crime scene fingermarks dates back to the Qin dynasty (, 221-206 BCE). During the Tang dynasty (, 619-907 CE) and Song dynasty (, 906-1279 CE), fingerprints were widely used on contracts, divorce papers, and other legal documents. However, many of the literature references are inaccurate or obsolete, so this paper reviews some of the original sources from the Tang and Song periods that are now publicly available, thus attempting to investigate the Chinese use of fingerprints.