Li and Fa in Contract Law from the Perspective of Chinese Legal Philosophy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15294/lslr.v8i1.14065

Keywords:

Li, Fa, Confucianism, Legalism, Contract

Abstract

Traditional Chinese law is strongly influenced by two schools of thought, namely Confucianism which emphasizes “rule by li” and Legalism which emphasizes “rule of fa”. Both schools of thought have different accentuations, specifically, “li” emphasizes trust, while “fa” prioritizes certainty. In light of this ambivalence, this research seeks to address the following problem formulation: (i) how do the principles of "li" and "fa" inform the foundation of legal agreements? (ii) how has the evolution of these principles been shaped by Mainland Chinese and Peranakan Chinese communities? To address these inquiries, this study delves into the influence of "li" and "fa" within contract law, specifically within the context of Contract Law among Mainland Chinese and Peranakan Chinese in Indonesia. The researcher conducts an exploration of the Analects of Confucius to elucidate the essence of "li" and delves into the texts of Shang Yang and Han Fei Zi to discern the essence of "fa." The findings of this research are subsequently employed as a foundation for analyzing the impact of "li" and "fa" on legal practices in Mainland Chinese and Peranakan Chinese societies, viewed through the lens of legal philosophy.

References

Bakung, Dolot Alhasni, Thanh Nga Pham, and Mohamad Hidayat Muhtar. "Disparity in the Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel between Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom." Journal of Law and Legal Reform 5, no. 1 (2024): 267-304.

Campbell, Dennis R.M. “Zhou and Qin Dynasty: China.” World History Project, n.d.

Chen, Lei. “History of Chinese Contract Law.” Chinese Contract Law Civil and Common Law Perspectives, 2017.

Colombo, Sylviane. “Fascism, Community, and the Paradox of Good Faith.” South African Law Journal 111, no. 3 (1994).

Ďurica, Ján. “Han Fei: His Thought and Work and the Problem of Inconsistencies.” SOS 13, no. 1 (2014).

Duyvendak, J.J.L. The Book of Lord Shang. London: Arthur Probsthain, 1928.

Eno, Roberto. The Analect of Confucius, 2015.

Eno, Roberto. The Analect of Confucius: An Online Teaching Translation, 2015.

Eno, Roberto. Zhuangzi: Inner Chapter, 2019.

Fariana, Anne Judith. “Talking Disputes into Harmony’: China Approaches International Commercial Arbitration.” American University International Law Review 4, no. 1 (1989): 137–71.

Flanagan, Owen, dan Jing Hu. “Han Fei Zi’s Philosophical Psychology: Human Nature, Scarcity, and The Neo-Darwinian Consensus.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 38, no. 2 (2011): 293–316.

Fu, Junwei. “Towards a Social Value Convergence: A Comparative Study of Fundamental Principles of Contract Law in the EU and China.” Oxford University Comparative Law Forum, 2009. https://ouclf.law.ox.ac.uk/towards-a-social-value-convergence-a-comparative-study-of-fundamental-principles-of-contract-law-in-the-eu-and-china/.

Goldin, Paul R. “Persistent Misconceptions About Chinese Legalism.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 38, no. 1 (2011): 88–104.

Hansen, Chad. “Fa (Standards: Laws) and Meaning Changes in Chinese Philosophy.” Philosophy East and West 44, no. 3 (1994): 435–88.

Helliksen, Lars T. “Autocratic Bureucratism: Han Fei’s Ancient Chinese Strategies of Governance as Contrasted with Machiavelli’s Political Philosophy,” 2002.

Huang, Ying-Syuan, dan Anila Ashgar. “The Political Initiative of Taiwan’s Education for Sustainable Development: Looking Through the Lens of Chinese Legalism.” Policy Futures in Education, 19, no. 8 (2021): 925–49.

Hwang, Kwang-Kuo. “Leadership Theory of Legalism and Its Function in Confucian Society,” 2008.

Jeffrey, David McLachlan. “Ancient Daoist Wisdom and Its Associated Principle of Yin-Yang for Contemporary Classroom as Foundations for a Harmonious World.” Philosophical Inquiry in Education 28, no. 3 (2021): 237–50.

Jin-guang, Wang. “Water Philosophy in Ancient Society in China: Connotation, Representation, and Influence.” Philosophy Study 9(12) (2019).

Kong, Shujuan. “Positive Discourse Analysis of Political Thought in The Analect from the Perspective of Metaphor.” Theory and Practice in Language Studies 12, no. 1 (2022): 2339–46.

Kryger, Martin. “What’s the Point of the Rule of Law?” Buffalo Law Review 67, no. 3 (2019).

Kusumohamidjojo, Budiono. Sejarah Filsafat Tiongkok: Suatu Pengantar Komprehensif. Bandung: Penerbit Yrama Widya, 2022.

Lakitsch, Maximilian. “Hobbes in the Anthropocene: Reconsidering the State of Nature in Its Relevance for Governing,” Alternatives: Global, Local, Political 46, no. 1 (2021): 3–16.

Legge, James. “《八佾 - Ba Yi》.” Chinese Text Project. Accessed on 8 September 2023. https://ctext.org/analects/ba-yi.

Legge, James. “(顏淵) Yan Yuan.” Accessed on 15 June 2023. https://ctext.org/analects/yan-yuan.

Li, Yong. “Confucian Philosophy of Family: Interpretation or Justification.” Asian Philosophy 32, no. 2 (2022): 152–63.

Liao, W.K. The Complete Works of Han Fei Tzu: A Classic of Chinese Legalism. London: Arthur Probsthain, 1939.

Liu, Chenglin. “Confucius and The Chinese Legal Tradition.” Michigan State International Law Review 28, no. 3 (2020): 478–533.

Liu, Shuwen, dan Xiaodong Jie. “On the Coherence of Mencius’ Concept of Li: An Analysis Based on Moral Reasons Internalism.” Religions 14, no. 8 (2023): 1–14.

Lu, Yinghua. “Respect and the Confucian Concept of Li (ritual propriety).” Asian Philosophy: An International Journal of the Philosophical Traditions of the East, 2020.

Meng, Qingnian. “Individual and Unity (Heti): The Generative Structure of Human Relations from the Coonfucius Perspective.” Religions 14, no. 8 (2023): 1–10.

Milburn, Olivia. “Headhunting in ancient China: The history of violence and denial of knowledge.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 81, no. 1 (2018): 103–20.

Nico, Silvia. “Modern Chinese Legal System: Is There Any Reference to the Imperial Thought? Confucianism, Legalism, and Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics.” Legal Worldwatch, 2021.

Peta, Cooner. “Confucianism or Legalism? A Grand Debate on Human Nature and Ecconomic Thought.” E-International Relations, 2018.

Provis, Chris. “Business Ethics, Confucianism and the Different Faces of Ritual.” Journal of Business Ethics 165, no. 2 (2020): 191–204.

Pun, Min. “The East-West Dichotomy: From Orientalism to Postcoloniality.” IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science 24, no. 1 (2019).

Putro, Widodo Dwi. Kritik Terhadap Paradigma Positivisme Hukum. Yogyakarta: Genta Publishing, 2011.

Qi, Sen, dan Xinyi Wang. “An Analysis of the Reason Why Confucianism Become an Orthodox Thought in the Han Dinasty.” Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research 638 (2021): 703–7.

Raban, Ofer. “The Fallacy of Legal Certainty: Why Vague Legal Standards May Be Better for Capitalism and Liberralism.” Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 19:175 (2010).

Radice, Thomas. “Li (Ritual) in Early Confucianism.” Philosophy Compass 12, no. 10 (2017).

Rawson, Jessica. “The Origins of Chinese Mountain Painting: Evidence from Archeology.” Elsley Zetlyn Lecture on Chinese Archeology and Culture 117 (2003): 1–48. https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197262795.003.0001.

Rošker, Jana S. “Models of Humanism in Ancient China: An Explanation Centered on Early Confucian Ethics.” Religions 14, no. 1 (2023): 1–11.

Schneider, Henrique. An Introduction to Hanfei’s Political Philosophy: The Way of The Ruler. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018.

Siswandini, Novianti. “Akses Masuk Vihara Amurva Bhumi Terancam Sengketa Tanah dengan PT. Danataru Jaya, Pengurus: Itu Tanah Hibah Pemprov DKI.” TV One News, 2023. https://www.tvonenews.com/berita/128629-akses-masuk-vihara-amurva-bhumi-terancam-sengketa-tanah-dengan-pt-danataru-jaya-pengurus-itu-tanah-hibah-pemprov-dki.

Thomas-Walters, Lachlan. “The Complexities of Translating Legal Terms: Understanding Fa (法) and the Chinese Concept of Law.” Melbourne Asia Review, 2021.

Usman. “Confucianism Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.” DINIKA: Academic Journal of Islamic Studies 1, no. 2 (2016): 177–86.

Van, Vu Hong. “Overview of Confucianism and the Basic Content of Confucianism.” South Asian Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 2, no. 4 (2020): 285–92.

Wakindiyah, Nimas Yuhyih. “Migrasi Etnis Tionghoa ke Indonesia: Analisis Peran dan Kontribusi Komunitas Tionghoa dalam Pembentukan Identitas Nasional Indonesia.” Ranah Sejarah: Journal of Historical Science and Education 1, no. 2 (2023): 30–35.

Wasitaatmadja, Fokky Fuad. Etnografi Hukum: Budaya Hukum Masyarakat Cina Jelata. Jakarta: Prenadamedia Group, 2020.

Watson, Burton. Han Fei Zi: Basic Writing. New York: Columbia University Press, 1893.

Wesołowski SVD, Zbigniew. “The Virtues of Xiao (Filial Piety) and Ti (Brotherly Obedience) as Two Pillars of Confucian Familism.” Studia Warmińskie 59 (2022): 315–36.

Xiaodong, Zou. “Editor’s Introduction: Reevaluating the Traditional Confucian Division between Mencius and Xunzi.” Journal of Chinese Humanities 6, 2020.

Xiaoyu, Ge, Li Xiaoming, dan Hou Yubo. “Confucian Ideal Personality Traits: Junzi Personality (Exploration of Psychological Measurement).” Acta Psychologica Sinica 53, no. 12 (2021): 1321–34.

Yang, Yong, Youqing Fan, dan Jianfeng Jia. “The Eastern Construction of Paradoxical Cognitive Framework and Its Anticedents: A Yin-Yang Balancing Perspective.” Chinese Management Studies 16, no. 5 (2022): 1081–1107.

Yi, Chu, dan Li. “Yin Yang: A New Perspective in Understanding the Development of Religion in Contemporary China.” Cultural and Religious Studies 2, no. 2 (2014): 78–93.

Yigong, Liu. “Chinese Legal Tradition and Its Modernization.” US-China Law Review 8:458 (2011).

Yuan, Shizan. “The Book of Lord Shang and Chinese Authoritarianism,” n.d.

Yu-Lan, Fung. Sejarah Filsafat Cina (Short History of Chinese Philosophy). Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar, 2017.

Yuri, Pines. The Book of Lord Shang. New York: Columbia University Press, 2017.

Zurndorfer, Harriet T. “Confusing Confucianism with Capitalism: Culture as Impediment and/or Stimulus to Chinese Economic Development.” London School of Economics and Political Science. Accessed on 12 September 2023. https://www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-History/Assets/Documents/Research/GEHN/GEHNConferences/conf3/Conf3-HZurndorfer.pdf.

Downloads

Article ID

14065

Published

2024-09-22

How to Cite

Li and Fa in Contract Law from the Perspective of Chinese Legal Philosophy . (2024). Lex Scientia Law Review, 8(1), 163-192. https://doi.org/10.15294/lslr.v8i1.14065