In the translation history of the Qing Code, George Jamieson used his translation to map a reform route that was neglected in Chinese legal history. Based on first-hand archival material, this article reconstructs the untrodden route by recovering Jamieson’s vision on the value of Qing family law in the new era. Having outlined the legal and social conditions that boosted his assurance, it proceeds to analyze the message he hoped to convey to Chinese lawmakers by probing his opposition to drastic changes and advocacy for gradual reform. In the face of an imminent legal reform, Jamieson attached importance to “selecting” and “adapting” those parts of foreign law that could accommodate native institutions. His dialogue with modern English law in translating Qing marriage law set a model in this regard.
Key words
George Jamieson /
Chinese Family and Commercial Law /
Daqing lüli /
family law /
civil code /
Republican China
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.title}}
{{custom_sec.content}}
References
Allen, C. K. (1964). Law in the Making. 7th ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Association of Chinese Historians 中國史學會 (2000). Xinhai geming 辛亥革命 [The Revolution of 1911]. Shanghai: Shanghai Renmin Publishing.
Ch’ü, T’ung-tsu (1965). Law and Society in Traditional China. Paris: Mouton.
Chen, Li (2016). Chinese Law in Imperial Eyes. New York: Columbia University Press.
Chen, Xinyu 陳新宇 (2011). “Qinding daqing xinglü xin yanjiu”《欽定大清刑律》 新研究 [A new study on the Criminal Law of the Qing Dynasty Approved by the Emperor]. Faxue yanjiu 法學研究 2: 193-208.
— (2017). “Daqing xin xinglü bianzuan guocheng zhong de lifaquan zhi zheng”《大清新刑律》編纂過程中的立法權之爭 [Struggle for legislative power in the making of the New Criminal Law of the Qing Dynasty]. Faxue yanjiu 法學研究 2: 190-208.
Cretney S. M.,J. M. Masson (1990). Principles of Family Law. 5th ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Daqing lüli huiji bianlan 大清律例彙輯便覽 [A collection of the Great Qing Code] (1877). Vol. 10. Beijing: Shan Cheng Tang.
Huang, Phillip C.C. (2001). Code, Custom, and Legal Practice in China: The Qing and the Republic Compared. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Huang, Yuansheng 黃源盛 (2007). Falü jishou yu jindai zhongguofa 法律繼受與近代中國法 [Legal transplantation and modern Chinese law]. Taipei: Huang Ruoqiao Publishing.
— (2014). “Wanqing minguo jishou waiguo fa zhong lunchang tiaokuan de bian yu bubian” 晚清民國繼受外國法中倫常條款的變與不變 [The modification and preservation of clauses relating to order of seniority in absorbing foreign law during late Qing and Republican China]. In Zhonghua faxi yu rujia sixiang 中華法系與儒家思想 [Chinese legal system and Confucian ideology], ed. by Gao Mingshi 高明士 , 51-63. Taipei: National Taiwan University Press.
Jamieson, George (1880a). “Translations from the Lü-Li, or General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: II. Inheritance and Succession.”The China Review 8(4): 193-205.
——— (1880b). “Translations from the Lü-Li, or General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: III. Registration and Taxation.”The China Review 8(5): 259-276.
— (1880c). “Translations from the Lü-Li, or General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: IV. Registration and Taxation—(continued).”The China Review 8(6): 357-363.
— (1880d). “Translations from the Lü-Li, or General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: V. Land Tenure and Taxation.”The China Review 9(3): 129-136.
— (1881a). “Translations from the Lü-Li, or General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: VI.”The China Review 9(6): 343-350.
—(1881b). “Translations from the General Code of Laws of the Chinese Empire: VII Marriage Laws.”The China Review 10(2): 77-99.
—(1921). Chinese Family and Commercial Law. Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh, Limited.
Jiang, Yonglin (trans.) (2005). The Great Ming Code/Da Ming Lü. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press.
Jones, William C.(trans.) (1994). The Great Qing Code. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Li, Chao 李超 (2002). “Zhongguo guyou minfa ziyuan dui jindai minshi lifa de yingxiang” 中國固有民法資源對近代民事立法的影響 [The influence of Chinese native civil resources on modern civil legislation]. In Zhongguo falü jindaihua lunji 中國法律近代化論集 [Thesis collection on legal modernization in China], ed. by Zhang Sheng 張生, 145-164. Beijing: Press of China University of Political Science and Law.
Li, Guilian 李貴連 (2000). Shenjiaben zhuan 沈家本傳 [Biography of Shen Jiaben]. Beijing: Law Press.
Li, Weidong 李衛東 (2005). Minchu minfa zhong de minshi xiguan yu xiguanfa 民初民法中的民事習慣與習慣法 [Customs and customary law in civil laws of the early Republican China]. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.
Li, Xiandong 李顯東 (2003). Cong Daqing lüli dao Minguo minfadian de zhuanxing 從《大清律例》到《民國民法典》的轉型 [The transition from Daqing lüli to the Civil Code of the Republic of China]. Beijing: Press of People’s Public Security University of China.
Lin, Duan 林端 (2002). Rujia lunli yu falü wenhua 儒家倫理與法律文化 [Confucian ethics and legal culture]. Beijing: Press of China University of Political Science and Law.
Lin, Zengping 林增平, Hanmin Guo 郭漢民,Yumin Li 李育民 (1985). Xinhai Geming 辛亥革命 [The Revolution of 1911]. Chengdu: Bashu Publishing.
Staunton, George Thomas (1966). Ta Tsing Leu Lee; being the Fundamental Laws, and a Selection from the Supplementary Statutes, of the Penal Code of China. 1810. Reprint, Taipei: Cheng Wen Publishing Co.
Stone, Olive M.(1977). Family Law. London and Basingstoke: The MacMillan Press Ltd.
The Law Commission (1970). Family Law Report on Nullity of Marriage, No. 33.
The London and China Telegraph (1921). “Obituary—Mr. Geo. Jamieson (1843-1920).” 3 January 1921.
The North-China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette (1903). “The S. D. C. K.: Annual General Meeting.” 11 December 1903.
Wu, Jianjie 吳劍傑 (1991). Xinhai geming yanjiu 辛亥革命研究 [A study on the Revolution of 1911]. Wuchang: Wuhan University Press.
Xue, Yunsheng 薛允升 (1970). Duli cunyi chongkan ben 讀例存疑重刊本 [A typeset edition of Concentration on Doubtful Matters in the Perusal of the Sub-Statutes]. Vol. 2. Taipei: Cheng Wen Publishing Co.
Yao, Guangzu 姚光祖 (1977). “Qingmo Zizhengyuan zhi yanjiu” 清末資政院之研究 [Study on National Assembly in late Qing]. Master’s Thesis, National Taiwan University.
Zhang, Jinfan 張晉藩 (2010). Zhongguo fazhi shi 中國法制史 [China’s legal history]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.
PDF(433 KB)
