On the Growth of Law -- Interpretations from Legal Ethnography of Southern Mountainous Areas in China

Author: Zhang Guanzi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: This book is a significantly revised and improved version based on the author's doctoral dissertation. During the preparation, writing, revision, and defense of the dissertation, the author was fortunate to receive meticulous guidance from their supervisor, Professor Rao Xinxian of the Peking University Law School, Professor Li Guilian of the Peking University Law School as a member of the supervisor team, and Professor Wu Shuchen of the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court. The author also received valuable instruction from their master's supervisor, Professor Zhang Chuanxi of the Peking University Department of History, Researcher Yang Yifan of the Institute of Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Researcher Lu Xun of the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. During the revision and improvement of the dissertation and the application for publication, the author was kindly assisted by Mr. Liu Baiju of the Research Bureau, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Researcher Ren Yifei of the Institute of Ethnic Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Mr. Wei Jun of Social Sciences Academic Press. The author's wife, Lawyer Liu Donghua of the Women's Legal Research and Service Center of the Peking University Law School, devoted great care to the writing of this book and provided numerous conveniences. Additionally, the book greatly benefits from the research findings, direct teachings, and various forms of assistance of many experts and scholars, which are too numerous to list one by one. The author sincerely expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the aforementioned esteemed teachers, experts, leaders, and relatives.
[Editor's Recommendation] The methodology used in this book combines traditional Chinese research methods with Western cultural anthropology research methods. The reference materials are extensive, including ancient Chinese historical documents, particularly the ethnic social history surveys conducted annually since the liberation, as well as recent ethnological research findings. The book also draws heavily on new works in domestic history, anthropology, and law. — Zhang Chuanxi, Professor of the Department of History, Peking University
This book adopts the perspectives and methods of Western anthropological studies on law and its evolution. Based on data from southern Chinese mountain ethnic groups in the first half of the 20th century, it analyzes the internal and external societies of these mountain ethnic groups, as well as the social and cultural factors embedded within them, such as ecological environments, economic systems, political institutions, religious forms, and cultural traditions, in order to seek the general causes of the origin and evolution of law. General conclusions are drawn from case studies. This exploration is successful and represents a highly innovative academic work. — Li Guilian, Professor of the Peking University Law School