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Frontiers of Law in China

ISSN 1673-3428

ISSN 1673-3541(Online)

CN 11-5742/D

Postal Subscription Code 80-981

Front. Law China    2019, Vol. 14 Issue (1) : 39-72    https://doi.org/10.3868/s050-008-019-0003-4
FOCUS
The Modernization of Chinese Civil Law over Four Decades
WANG Liming()
Professor, School of Law, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China; Chairman of the Civil Law Society of China and Executive Vice President, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
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Abstract

This article reviews the historical development of Chinese civil law since reform and opening up of China and argues that the primary achievement of civil law legislation over the last four decades has been the formation of a comprehensive civil legal system. Today’s civil law system in China not only satisfies the institutional requirements for building a market economy but also constructs a legal rights system and establishes fundamental civil law principles, such as individual autonomy, equal protection, good faith, and fairness. In the 40 years since reform and opening up, there have been significant innovations with regard to the specific systems, systemic structures, and fundamental principles of Chinese civil law. This article summarizes the experiences of China’s civil law legislation since reform and opening up and looks ahead to how the anticipated “civil law codification” suitable for the modern era will develop a modern legal code based on China’s domestic circumstances.

Keywords reform and opening up      40 years      Chinese civil law      civil law codification     
Issue Date: 17 April 2019
 Cite this article:   
WANG Liming. The Modernization of Chinese Civil Law over Four Decades[J]. Front. Law China, 2019, 14(1): 39-72.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/flc/EN/10.3868/s050-008-019-0003-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/flc/EN/Y2019/V14/I1/39
[1] BIAN Jianlin, XIE Shu. Forty Years of Reform and Opening Up: The Birth and Development of China’s Criminal Justice System[J]. Front. Law China, 2019, 14(1): 73-85.
[2] ZHAO Bingzhi, YUAN Bin. FOUR DECADES OF CRIMINAL LAW RESEARCH: PATHS OF DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION[J]. Front. Law China, 2018, 13(4): 538-558.
[3] MA Huaide, KONG Xiangwen. 40 YEARS OF THE RULE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: ENHANCEMENTS, EXPERIENCE, AND EXPECTATIONS[J]. Front. Law China, 2018, 13(4): 497-537.
[4] HAN Dayuan. 40 YEARS OF CHINESE REFORM AND OPENING UP ALONGSIDE CHINESE CONSTITUTIONAL STUDY[J]. Front. Law China, 2018, 13(4): 458-496.
[5] Liming Wang, Youjun Zhou. Progressing with the Reform and Opening up: Retrospective of China’s Civil Law (1978–2008)[J]. Front Law Chin, 2010, 5(2): 165-187.
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