晚清时期英美传教士的中国法律观

The Viewpoints of English and American Missionaries about Chinese Law in Late Qing Dynasty

晚清时期,英美两国来华传教士的作品中保留了丰富的中国法律史料,内容涉及法典演变、刑法、民事法制、诉讼法制以及行政管理法制等多方面,反映了当时英美人士对中国法律的总体观念。在传教士看来,中国法律具有家族本位、严刑酷法、司法腐败、集体连带责任、激进思维等多种特点。这些观念对重新认识中国传统法律,指导今天的法律变革和法治建设都具有启发意义。

There were plenty materials of Chinese legal history in the writings of missionaries coming from England and America in late Qing Dynasty. These content includes legal development,criminal law,civil law,procedural law and administrative law. They reflected English and Americans views about Chinese law in that time and explained some characteristics of Chinese law. These viewpoints have greatly inspired to make afresh understanding of Chinese legal tradition and to construct Chinese legal system at present.