Law and Society in Late Imperial and Modern China

3 credits · Undergraduate credit

The Chinese legal order is one of the great legal traditions that has not only exercised a tremendous influence on other legal systems in East Asia for centuries, but still exerts a considerable influence in China today. In recent years, new research methods and improved access to archival materials have shed new light on many aspects of Chinese legal history. This course explores major topics in Chinese legal history through selected readings of secondary and primary sources, as well as through audiovisual materials and fiction.