Lexicon Volume 48 (Roman Criminal Law)

Author: Ji Weimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-10
Features: Regarding the translation of Book 48 of the "Digest," it is undoubtedly important in itself, given the material it involves—Roman law. Its significance also stems from the particularly important position of criminal law in the history of Chinese law. I believe that this translation will be especially helpful for legal scholars in the Roman law system to compare the criminal law traditions of Roman law with those of ancient Chinese law. Such research may contribute to a deeper understanding of the historical context of the ancient world in China and the West, which adopt different organizational structures. However, I also believe that legal scholars in the Roman law system can gain much from the study of the content involved in this translation at the level of criminal norms. For example, the definition of certain types of crimes, the general definition of criminal acts, and an accurate understanding of the relationship between the coercive power of citizens and that of republican law enforcement officials during the process of pursuing criminal cases.