International Law

Author: [USA] Whitten
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-05-01
Features: The period of the Republic of China was the foundational era of modern Chinese law. During this time, not only did a series of significant monographs emerge, such as Wang Shijie and Qian Densheng's Comparative Constitution, Hu Changqing's General Principles of Chinese Civil Law, Huang Youchang's Roman Law and Modernity, Yang Honglie's History of the Development of Chinese Law, Cheng Shude's Laws of the Nine Dynasties, and Qu Tongzu's Chinese Law and Chinese Society, but also approximately over four hundred foreign legal translations were published, such as Komeiji Shigeharu's Evolution of Law and Moro Smith's History of the Development of Continental Law. These works are an important part of the legacy of modern Chinese law. It is concerning that, due to their age, these translations have gradually been lost. Even if some copies remain, they are often in poor condition due to the low printing standards and poor paper quality of that era, making them difficult to access. Additionally, these works are generally kept as library collections and are preserved only in a few major libraries across the country, making it difficult for general readers to borrow or consult them. In light of this situation, the China University of Political Science and Law has demonstrated foresight and a commitment to scholarship by planning and deciding to organize and select these translations from the Republic of China period (including a small number from the late Qing Dynasty) for re-typesetting and publication under the series Chinese Modern Legal Translations. This initiative aims to preserve the legal heritage of the Republic of China and meet the learning and research needs of the academic community and students and faculty at law schools. This translation series primarily focuses on organizing, typesetting, and proofreading foreign classic legal works translated and published by Chinese scholars during the Republic of China period. The International Law of Nations was printed in 1864 and, despite several reprints, was never widely published. After 138 years of wear and tear, the book is now extremely rare, not only for general readers but even for legal scholars, let alone researchers in law or international law. The edition used for this typesetting and proofreading is based on the 1864 printing by Beijing Chongshi Hall, preserved in the library of the China University of Political Science and Law.