Xiong Xianjue Legal Works

Author: Xiong Xianjue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: This collection is themed around the rule of law, discussing the arduous journey China has taken toward establishing a rule-of-law society. As Qu Yuan's Li Sao states: "The path is long and winding, I will seek high and low." The rule of law is a governance strategy, and a rule-of-law society is a modern civilized society that has been legalized. How many generations of upright and dedicated individuals in China have longed for the exploration of the rule-of-law path and the realization of a rule-of-law society. Since the late Qing Dynasty, with Shen Jiashu as a leading figure, rule-of-law advocates have attempted to reform laws and introduce Western modern legal systems. For over a century, they have succeeded one after another, paying a heavy price, yet failed to achieve their goal. In the early days of the People's Republic of China, a large number of party and non-party figures, with Dong Biwu as the flag bearer of the rule of law, vigorously promoted it. However, the People's Republic was born in the soil of a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society, lacking both inherent strength and proper nurturing, making its progress extremely difficult. Starting in the second half of 1957, legal nihilism ran rampant, and extreme-leftist thought spread like wildfire. During the "Cultural Revolution," it reached its peak, destroying the limited achievements in the rule of law. Extremes meet—since the reform and opening-up, after rectifying chaos and restoring order, all construction efforts centered on economic development, including the rule of law, have achieved remarkable success, attracting worldwide attention. However, building a rule-of-law society is no overnight task and cannot be accomplished in a single leap. It remains a long and arduous journey.