Japanese Factors Of The Law Revision In Late Qing Dynasty

There is a long history of culture communication between China and Japan. From Tang and Sui dynasty, China was always the model imitated by Japan. However, Japan influenced China on law innovation and modernization deeply after Meiji Restoration.The law revision in late Qing dynasty was the first step in law modernization which broke the Chinese legal system and leaded China to the civil law system. During the ten-year period of law revision, Japan was the most important factor. Whatever reason was the law innovation, it was greatly influenced by Japan on law system, law education, the jurisconsults and the law. Some scholars even consider the law revision in late Qing dynasty as copy Japan and the law itself was Japanese law.Why law revision in late Qing dynasty was so greatly influenced by Japan?Why China imitated Japan and took the civil law system? This essay tries to analyse the background of law revision in late Qing dynasty and both its direct reason and deep reason. Also this essay expatiates on the influence of Japanese jurisconsults and makes a judgement on the effect of the Japan factor during the law revision in late Qing dynasty.