Beyond The East And The West: Wu Jiong - Xiong 's Thought Of Natural Law

This article selects the famous jurist John C. H. Wu’s natural law philosophy as the research object, from the angle of communicate and beyond the East and the West, analyzes how his legal thoughts evolved, sum up the main face and overall features of his natural law thoughts and, eventually try to provides a review of his natural law thoughts.Based on the experience and ideas of Wu’s life changes, this article begin with a description to show the evolution of his Law Philosophy, from beyond the western jurisprudence and beyond the Chinese legal tradition these two parts respectively. In these two evolutions of Wu`s thoughts, we can see that Wu toward a fusion of Eastern and Western Natural Law via a reflection on western jurisprudence and the heritage of Chinese traditional culture. Then, this paper summarizes this natural law thinking, and believes its main content and basic characteristics can be attributed to: Beyond constancy and change, communication on “this side” and “the other side” as well as an intuitive method. In fact, these three areas are also characteristics of Wu’s own ethos, his efforts in the direction of his ideas and his contributions to the natural law theory. In the last part of the article, this paper attempts to evaluate Wu`s theoretical contribution to the natural law thoughts, comes to know that Wu’s contribution is dedicated to dispel people`s misconceptions of the “natural law” concept, justify the natural law; and argues in favor of the natural law by discussion on the leading position of natural law,the significance of natural law, and the relationship between the religious faith and the natural law. What is particularly important is that, he tries to put forward a natural law theory of beyond the East and West and make efforts to realize it. In this theory we can see the spirit of Eastern and Western cultures in common; we can see the Eastern and Western cultures underline each other, promote each other and develop each other. This natural law which beyond east and west is a natural law with universal meaning, is the real natural law because it is rooted in a ponder of "human nature" and a pursuit of universal values. Thus, Wu is a firmly supporter and advocate for natural law theory. In the numerous contemporary voice of the revival of natural law, we must listen carefully on Wu`s great voice from his wisdom. He provides not only a special value for the China`s jurisprudence and Chinese nation, but also a profound significance to the whole world.