Confucianism and the Law: An Historical Analysis of the Imperial Chinese System.
This study proposes to examine the evolution of the Imperial Chinese legal system across from the Ch'in dynasty (221-206 B.C) to that of the last imperial dynasty, the Ch'ing. It is acknowledged that the scale and complexity of this task is seemingly beyond the scope of this paper given that the period in question spans approximately two millennia, and includes the political and legal reforms of a number of dynasties. However, this task is rendered possible only due to what - it will be argued - is the key element of the Imperial Chinese legal system: its consistency. This paper will demonstrate that the Imperial Chinese legal system was defined by a marked conservatism that maintained key elements of the Chinese legal code across centuries of time, and through numerous civil wars and dynasties. 31 pgs. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
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