《周礼·秋官司寇·大司寇》
大司寇的职责，负责建立和颁行治理天下的三法，以辅佐王惩罚违法的诸侯国，禁止四方各国的叛逆：一是惩罚新建立之国用轻法，二是惩罚违法的旧国用中法，三是惩罚乱国用重法。
大司寇之职，掌建邦之三典，以佐王刑邦国，诘四方。一曰，刑新国用轻典；二曰，刑平国用中典；三曰，刑乱国用重典。
The duty of the Minister of Justice is to establish and promulgate the Three Laws governing the world to assist the king in punishing the vassal states who have violated the law and to prohibit rebellion in all directions. The three laws are: First, punishing the newly established countries with light laws; second, punishing the old countries who have violated the law with medium laws; and third, punishing the chaotic countries with severe laws.