Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

One Country, Two Systems, Three Legal Orders - Perspectives of Evolution pp 91–114Cite as

Modernisation, Westernisation, and Globalisation: Legal Transplant in China

  • Conference paper

China has a long history with its own unique ‘legal culture’ and conception of law. Yet, for the whole of the twentieth century, the development of Chinese law and legal science was a process of learning from, making use of, absorbing and digesting, foreign experiences. As far as legal institutions, principles and terminologies in the contemporary legal system in China are concerned, almost all were transplanted from foreign countries, though China's own situation was considered. In fact, foreign laws are now an indispensable part of the main body of modern Chinese law. (He and Li (2003))

In other words, the modern evolution of Chinese law is largely a process of legal transplantation in the name of modernisation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ai Y (2005) Several questions on modernisation of Chinese law. Soc Sci (Shehui Kexue) 11:52–59 (Originally published in 2005, reprinted in Jurisprudence Hist Laws (Falixue Fashixue) 49:53 in 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernhardt K, Huang PCC (1994) Civil law in Qing and Republican China. Stanford University Press, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodde D, Morris C (1967) Law in imperial China. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp. 3–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler WE (ed) (1983) The legal system of the Chinese Soviet Republic 1931–1934. Transnational Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron ME (1963) The Reform Movement in China 1898–1912. Octagon Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao Q (2005) Internationalisation and localisation: the formation of the modern Chinese legal system (Guojihua yu Bentuhua — Zhongguo Jindai falü Tixi de Xingcheng). Beijing University Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen A (2004) Socio-legal thought and legal modernisation in contemporary China: A case study of the jurisprudence of Zhu Suli, In: Doeker-Mach G, Ziegert K (eds) Law, legal culture & politics in twenty first century. Steiner, Munich

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen AHY (2000) Socialist law, civil law, common law, and the classification of contemporary Chinese law. In: Otto JM, Polak MV, Chen J, Li Y (eds) Law-making in the people's Republic of China. Kluwer, The Hague, Chap. 4

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen S (1994) Our legislative trend in the 1990s, Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (1995) From administrative authorisation to private law: a comparative perspective of the developing civil law in the PRC. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (1999a) Chinese law: towards an understanding of Chinese law, its nature and development. Kluwer, The Hague, Chaps. 1&2

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (1999b) Internationalization of civil and commercial law in the PRC. In: Jayasuriya K (ed) Law, capitalism and power in Asia. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (1999c) Conceptual evolution of socialism with Chinese characteristics — the revision of the constitution in the PRC. China Perspectives 24:66

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2004) A great leap forward or a symbolic gesture? — The revision of the constitution in the PRC. China Perspectives 53:15

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng C-Y (ed) (1989) Sun Yat-sen's doctrine in the Modern World. Westview Press, Doulder

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng FT (1924) Law codification in China. J Comp Leg 6:283–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng T-H (1948) The development and reform of Chinese law. Curr Leg Probl 1:170–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H (1973) A history of the modern Chinese legal system (Zhongguo Jindai Fazhishi). The Commercial Press, Taipei

    Google Scholar 

  • Ch'ü T-T (1961) Law and society in traditional China. Mouton & Co, Paris Cong X (1992) Making foreign things for Chinese use through reference and creation. J China Univ Polit Sci Law (Zhangfa Luntan) 1:(69)–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao J, Sun C, Gu C (1992) The socialist legal system has to favour the liberation and development of the productive forces. Leg Sci China (Zhongguo Faxue) 4(8):3

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong P (1986) Politics and law (Dong piwu zhengzhi Falo Lunwen Ji) Law Press, Beining

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong P (1986) A Collection of Works of Dong Piwu on Politics and Law (Dong Piwu Zhengzhi Falü Lunwen Ji), Beijing: Law Press, p. 480

    Google Scholar 

  • Escarra J (1961) Chinese law: conception and evolution, legislative and judicial institutions, science and teaching, translated from a 1936 French edition by Gertrude R. Browne. University of Washington, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstern EJ (1998) Codification of civil law in the People's Republic of China: Form and substance in the reception of concepts and elements of western private law. UBCL Rev 32:153

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbank JK The Cambridge History of China, vol. 10, Late Ch'ing 1800–1911, Part I, Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbank JK, Liu K-c (1980) The Cambridge History of China, vol. 11, Late Ch'ing, 1800–1911, Part 2, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Foo P-s (1930) Introduction. In: The civil code of the Republic of China. Kelly & Walsh, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu HL (2002) Shifting landscape of dispute resolution in Rural China. In: Chen J, Li Y, Otto YM (eds) Implementation of Law in the PRC. Kluwer, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Fung Y-l (1966) A short history of Chinese philosophy. The Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Geng G (1994) Market economy and internationalisation of the legal system. Econ Law (Jingji Fazhi) 11:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Gernet J (1996) A history of Chinese civilisation, 2nd edition translated from French by J.R. Foster & Charles Hartman. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilpatrick MP The status of law and law-making procedure under the Kuomintang 1925–46, 1950–1. Far Eastern Q 10:39–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo D (1994) Market economy and the changes in legal theory and legal thought. Jurisprudence (Faxve) 2

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo D (1988) Law-making in China (Zhongguo Lifa Zhidu). People's Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu A (1989) A socialist Legal System and Legislative Work (Shehui Zhuyi Fazhi He Lifa Gongzuo). China University of Political Science and Law Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Guiguo (1995) Economic integration in quest of law. J World Trade 29(2):5

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Guilian (1994) Legal reforms in modern China and the Japanese influence. Stud Comp Law (Bijiaofa Yanjiu) 1:24

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao I (1997) Law students studied abroad in modern Chinese history and the modernisation of Chinese law. CASS J Law (Faxue Yanjiu) 6:3

    Google Scholar 

  • He H (1992) On legal transplant and the construction of an economic legal system. Leg Sci China (Zhongguo Faxue) 50:52–53

    Google Scholar 

  • He Q, Le X (2003) Foreign law and Chinese law – An examination of transplanting Foreign law into China in the 20th Century (Zhongguofa Yu Waiguofa – Ershiji Zhongguo Yizhi Waiguofa Fansi). Press of China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu (1929) The Journal of the Legislative Yuan (Li-fa Ch'uan K'an), vol. 1, pp. 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsü ICY (1995) The rise of modern China, 5th edn. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Idema WL, Zürcher E (eds) (1990) Thought and law in Qin and Han China. E.J. Brill, Leiden

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Jinfan (1988) A collection of papers on legal History (Fashi Jianlüe). Press of the Masses, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Jingwen (in press) A report on legal development in China: data bank and assessment criteria (zhongguo falü fazheng baogao: shujuku yu zhibiao tixi). Renmin University Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones WC (1987) Some Questions Regarding the Significance of the General Provisions of Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, Harv Int Law J 28 (2):310–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith RC (1994) China's struggle for the rule of law. St. Martin's Press Keith, New York, pp. 99–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang H (undated) The Chinese inheritance of foreign civil laws' (undated), published in http://www.iolaw.org.paper32.asp (accessed 27 July 2004)

  • Li C (1980) The old law cannot be critically inherited, it can only be used as a mirror’, origi nally published in (No.3, 1979). Stud Law (Faxue Yanjiu) 45, translated in (1980). Rev Social Law 6:287

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S and Xiao B (1994), Socialist market economy and the direction of legal modernisation, Hunan Normal University Social Science Journal (Hunan Shifan Daxue Shehui Xuebao) 6:11, 14–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Zang M, Du J (1994) A study on the assimilation of Chinese law [with International Practice]. (Philosophy & Social Sciences) Journal of Wuhan University (Wuhan Daxue Xuebao) 3:28

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin R (1980) A little discussion of the heritability law. Stud Law (Faxue Yanjiu) 1:13, translated in (1980) Rev Social Law 6:280–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin J (1994) A question on the proposition market economy is an economy under rule of law. Leg Sci China (Zhongguo Faxue) 1:68

    Google Scholar 

  • Linebarger PMA (1937) The political doctrine of Sun Yat-sen: an exposition of the San Min Chu I. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Lui J (1995) Globalization: an historical process full of paradoxes. Pac Stud (Taipingyan Xuebao) 1:70 Jinfan Z (ed) (1986) A Chinese legal history (Zhongguo Fazhi Shi) Press of the Masses, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Lui JTC, Tu W-M (eds) (1970) Traditional China. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma HHP (1995) The Chinese concept of the individual and the reception of foreign Law. J Chinese Law 9(2):207

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCormack G (1996) The spirit of traditional Chinese. The University of Georgia Press, Athens & London Mason A (1980) The courts and their role in changing the law today. In: Tay AE-S, Kamenka E (eds) Law-making in Australia. Edward Arnold (Australia) Pty Ltd, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattei U (1997) Three patterns of law: taxonomy and change in the World's legal systems. Am J Comp Law 45:5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer MJ (1967) The Introduction of modern criminal law in China, 2nd edn. Lung Men Bookstore, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijer MJ (1971) Marriage law and policy in the Chinese People's Republic. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertha A (2005) The politics of piracy: intellectual property in contemporary China. Cornell University Press, Ithaca

    Google Scholar 

  • Min X (1994) Socialist market economy is naturally an economy under rule of law (Special Issue, 1994) J Shandong Normal University (Shandong Shifan Daxuebao) 93

    Google Scholar 

  • Münzel F (1980) Chinese thoughts on the heritability of law: translations. Rev Social Law 6(3):275

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham J (1954) Science and civilisation in China, multi-volume. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Peerenboom RP (1993) Law and morality in Ancient China: the silk manuscripts of Huang-Lao. State University of New York Press, Albany

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng Z (1982) ‘Advancing Socialist Democracy and Strengthening the Socialist Legal System,’On political and legal work in the new China (Lun Xingzhongguo De Zhengfa Gongzuo). Zhongyang Wenxian Chuban She, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo Pixiang (1995) Four great contradictions facing the modernisation of Chinese law. Research and Debate 3 (Tansuo Yu Zhengming)

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter PB (2001) The Chinese legal system: globalization and local legal culture. Routledge Cuzon, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pound R (1948) Law and courts in China: progress in the administration of justice. Am Bar Assoc J 34:273

    Google Scholar 

  • Pound R (1955) The Chinese civil code in action. Tulane Law Rev 29:277, 289

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz BI (1985) The World of thought in Ancient China. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidman A, Seidman RB (1989) On the proposal for shenzhen to transplant hong law. Stud Comp Law (Bijiao Fa Yanjiu) 3:3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen C-P (1984) Chinese encyclopedia - law (zhongguo Dabaike Quarishu-Faxue). The chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Song R (1994) Recollections on participation in law-making (Canjia Lifa gongzuo Suoji), vol 1. Press of China Legal System, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Tay A (1969) Law in communist China – Part 1. Syd Law Rev 6:153–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Tay AE-S, and Kamenka E (1980) Marxism-Leninism and the Heritability of Law, (6) Rev Soc Law 6:261

    Google Scholar 

  • Tay AE-S, Kamenka E (1983) Public law – private law. In Benn SI, Gaus GF (eds) Public and private in social life. Croom Helm St. Martin's Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurston RL (1993) Country risk management: China and intellectual property protection. Int Lawyer 27:51

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian C (2005) Local customary law in rural socities (xiangto shehui zhoun de Minjianta). Law press. Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian ‘Functions of customs and strategies for dispute settlement by basic level judges, available at http://www.usc.cuhk.edu.hk/wk_wzdetails.asp?ID=1696

  • Tsao WY (1947) The constitutional structure of modern China. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Tu W-M (ed) (1994) China in transformation. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Ch'ien Tuan-Sheng (1950) The government and politics of China. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp. 57–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Tung WL (1964) The political institutions of modern China. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner K (1994) A case for contemporary studies of classical Chinese legal history. China Exchange News 14:(22:4):25

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Valk MH (1939) An outline of modern Chinese family law. Henri Vetch, Peking, reprinted by Ch'eng Wen Publishing Company, Taipei

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan T-S (1999) (translated by Sean Cooney) The impact of Modern Western law on the Chinese in Taiwan. Aust J Asian Law 1(2):194

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C (1992) ‘Cross References and Absorption Among Laws in Different Countries — An Important Topic for Comparative Law’, Legal Science in China (Zhongguo Faxue) (4) 39:42

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J et al. (1996) ‘On the Rule of Law’, (2) Studies in Law (Faxue Yanjiu) 3:3

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan Wei-Tung (1954) The Chinese constitution: a study of forty years of constitution-making in China. Institute of Chinese Culture, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen Z (1995) Some legal and philosophical thoughts on market economy. Legal Syst Soc Dev (Fazhi yu Shehui Fazharg) 4:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia X, Hu H (eds) (2004) Modern Chinese Constitutional Movements: A Collection of Historical Records (Jindai Zhongguo Xianzheng Licheng: Shiliao Huicui). Press of China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiang C, Yang J, Gu A (1984) A collection of articles on Chinese legal science (Zhongguo Faxue Wenji). Beijing: Publishing House of Law, pp. 6–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao Y (1994) Market economy and legal construction. Publishing House of Law, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie H (1994) From a planned economy to a market economy: revolution in legal theory. Gansu J Theoret Res (Gansu Lilon Xuek) 4:53

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang H (1984) A history of Chinese legal thought (Zhongguo Falii Sixiangshi) vol 2, Beijing. Commercial Publishing House (1937), reprinted by Shanghai Publishing House

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang H (1937) A history of Chinese legal throught (Zhongguo FaliiSixiangshi) vol 2. Commercial Publishing House, Beijing, reprinted by Shanghai Publishing House, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao Y (1984) International Investment Law (Guoji Touzifa). Wuhan University Press, Wuhan

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Yatsen (1953) Fundamentals of National reconstruction (published by China Culture Service and printed by Sino-America Publishing Co. Ltd., Taipei)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Yatsen (Undated) The three principles of the people: San Min Chu I (with two supplementary chapters by Chiang Kai-shek). China Publishing Company, Taipei

    Google Scholar 

  • Zang X (ed) (1993) A legal history of the revolutionary base areas (Geming Genjudi Fazhi Shi). Press of the Masses

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W (1995) Inheritance, transplant and reform: a necessity for legal development. Social Science Fronts (Shehui Kexue Zhanxian) 2:9, 13

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Wang W (eds) (1989) Forty Years of the PRC's Legal Science (Zhongguo Faxue Sishi Nian). Shanghai People's Publishing House, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J (1994) Market system and private law in China. J China Univ Polit Sci Law 6:34

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X (2003) Power and justice: dispute resolution in rural societies and plurality of authorities. Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House, Tianjin

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z (1987) ‘Advance Along the Road of Socialism with Chinese Characteristic — Report Delivered at the Thirteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China on 25 October 1987’. Foreign Languages Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y (ed) (1996) A History of Sino-Japan Cultural Exchange (Zhong Ri Wenhua Jiaoliu Shi Daxi), vol. 2 (Legal System) (Fazhi Juan). Zhejiang People's Press, Hangzhou

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng P (1979) Explanations on the seven law drafts, delivered at the 2nd Session of the Fifth NPC, 26 June 1979, available at http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/common/zw.jsp?label=WXZLK&ID=1111 (last accessed 12 Nov 2006)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Head of School, School of Law, La Trobe University Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Jianfu Chen

Authors
  1. Jianfu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Law Office, Macau

    Jorge Costa Oliveira

  2. University of Macau, Macau

    Paulo Cardinal

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Chen, J. (2009). Modernisation, Westernisation, and Globalisation: Legal Transplant in China. In: Oliveira, J.C., Cardinal, P. (eds) One Country, Two Systems, Three Legal Orders - Perspectives of Evolution. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68572-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation