Study On Legal Thoughts Of Tan Sitong

Tan Sitong is one of the key figures of the Reform Movement of1898in thelatter Qing dynasty, whose most important value reflected in the great political reform.He devoted himself to the great reform, bringing many advanced and radicaladvocates truly reflected the nature of a bourgeois reformist. However, Reformerswere eventually beaten by the Die-hards, Tan Sitong along with the other fivereformists dedicated to reform.Tan Sitong, with his short life for33years, pursuited all kinds of knowledge bythirsty. Traveled experience gave him rich life. Under the national disaster, Tan Sitongmade a remarkable change on his thoughts, form early "Debate of Chinese andBarbarians" to later "learn Western Legal completely". That change reflected hisgreatness of tolerant and strong patristic spirit, also let him became the key leader ofthe political movement. His reform theory comes from multi-knowledge, for example,traditional views on civil rights, the enlightenment thought, western theory ofevolution and even Buddhist theory. His legal thought covers widely, covering ofBourgeois Constitutionalism, Economic Law, Military Law and construction of thelegal system, reflecting "absolutely" and "fully".Tan Sitong had so many writings that later generations collected them to "Thecomplete works of Tan Sitong", that book is his precious inheritance. In his book"Benevolence Theory", he criticized feudal autocratic monarchy and the feudal orderwith great courage, made "smash snares against the shackles" call bravely. In theletters of his mentorship, besides criticized the outdated thought, he also put forwardconcrete measures for reform.His legal thoughts contain patriotism, that was quite different from otherreformists. His democratic revolution ideas and fierce criticism of the three cardinalguides and the five constant virtue, had a significant impact to the bourgeoisrevolution and the May4th movement. In the course of struggle for the revival ofChina, we can still extract useful things form his legal thinking, to inspire ourpatriotism.