On The Christian Marriage Concept Of Qing Dynasty Marriage Legal Relationship

The marriage relationship is one of the most basic&extensive socialrelations of human society. And for Christian contribution to the modernlegal system, there is no other field more significantly influenced than inmarriage and family law, as many important principles in the westernmarriage is subject to the influence of Christianity and were firstlyestablished by its can on law. Such as the voluntary principle,monogamous and equal marriage rights, they gradually made womenhave equal status with men in marriage.However, in academia, the study on impacts of Christian conceptin marriage to Chinese marriage reform is not abundant, especiallyduring the transition period of Chinas marriage law in late Qing dynastyand early Republic of China. This article, through display of the closecontact between the missionaries and leader of the major socialmovements after Christianity was introduced into China as well as theconnection of Christian speech and famous speech of progressivepeople, derives the conclusion that the change of the institution ofmarriage in late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China has been,indeed, influenced by the Christian concept of marriage.The whole article is divided into three chapters, of which the firstchapter is devoted to the marriage and the legal relationshipestablished by the Christian canon law; The second chapter is devotedto the local marriage and legal system in the early Qing Dynasty bywhen China not being influenced by Christianity yet; the third chapterfocuses on Christian impact on the institution of marriage. Based on thethree historical events leading to the social change in China---the Taiping Movement, the Reform Movement and the Revolution of1911, thecompacts will be described and proved in two points, one is the threeevents’ close contact with Christianity, and the other is those events’ impact on the history of Chinese institution of marriage, on how did theimpacts happen and what were the impacts.To accomplish the above study, the following work has to befulfilled: First, the study of historical events, such as the Tai pingMovement. The study of its specific historical development, as well as itsconnection with Christianity is needed. The second is the original bookin which we can find what exactly the reforms were. Such as whatexactly changed in the marriage law in Republic of China and what’sthe connection between the final promulgated and implemented CivilLaw with the Christian concept of marriage; thirdly, is the study ofhistorical figures. Christian concepts of marriage were firstly called forappeal by a number of baptized people in the country, such as SunYat-sen.The relations of those people with Christian and the remarks theypublished after accepting Christianity need to be discovered byreading and researching related materials.Besides the work all above, the method of analogy of the legalsystem and social phenomenon in China for it not being and has beeninfluenced by Christian would be needed to draw a final conclusion,that is, in late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China, the marriageand family relations and legislative reform of the marriage system aresubject to the influence of Christianity, and Christianity has made anindelible contribution on the road of our marriage legal system tocivilization.