Rule of Law
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Summary
Editor's review
The book's core value lies in combining systematicity with readability. The author begins with the origins of "rule of law," tracing the evolution of rule-of-law thought from ancient Greece and Rome to the modern West, and then to traditional and contemporary China, helping readers understand that "rule of law" is not a single, static concept but a dynamic system of values and practice. The book focuses on distinguishing "rule of law" from "rule by law," emphasizing core elements such as the supremacy of law, restraint of power, and protection of rights—meaningful for dispelling common misconceptions.
In terms of organization, the book avoids dry lists of provisions and piles of theory; instead, by introducing historical events, social phenomena, and case analysis, it places abstract rule-of-law principles in concrete contexts, making the discussion more persuasive and thought-provoking. It does not evade the achievements and challenges in China's rule-of-law process but discusses them from a constructive perspective, reflecting the author's concern for reality.
Overall, this book is a key for the public to enter the edifice of rule-of-law knowledge. It does not offer simple answers but guides readers to think: What is good law? What is good governance? How can the rule of law truly integrate into social life and protect everyone's dignity and freedom? For readers who wish to go beyond slogan-style understanding and truly grasp the essence of the rule of law, this is an introductory and general-reader work worth reading carefully.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Non-specialist readers interested in law, politics, and social governance who wish to understand the concept of "rule of law" systematically
- Students, especially lower-year undergraduates in law, political science, sociology, and related fields, as extracurricular reading
- Professionals in public administration, the judiciary, media, and similar fields who need to deepen their understanding of the spirit of the rule of law
- General readers who enjoy thoughtful, informative popular works and follow real-world social issues
Not a good fit for
- Legal practitioners seeking explanations of specific laws and regulations or hands-on guides to judicial cases
- Readers expecting extreme positions or fierce social criticism
Reading tips
- Read the whole book first to grasp the overall framework of the author's conceptual analysis, then read closely the historical periods or topics that interest you
- While reading, compare with current social hot topics or your own experience to appreciate the practical significance of rule-of-law principles
- The book compares Chinese and Western rule-of-law thought; keep an open mind, understand differences and commonalities, and do not rush to conclusions
About the publisher
Jiangsu People's Publishing House is known for works in history, literature and the social sciences. Judging from its catalog, it focuses on modern Chinese history, classical literary appreciation and scholarly research. Representative titles include historical works such as Kuomintang-Communist Cooperation and the National Revolution, 1924–1927 and A Record of Combat on the Front Lines of China's War of Resistance Against Japan, literary and visual documents such as Sun Wen's Illustrated Complete Dream of the Red Chamber, and scholarly collections such as Chen Yinke's Collected Works of Hanliu Hall. Translations such as The Dust Bowl and Anti-Intellectualism in American Life reflect an interest in overseas social and cultural studies. Its authors include historians Wang Qisheng, Huang Yuzhang and Guo Rugui, as well as figures associated with classical literature such as Cao Xueqin and Sun Wen. Common categories include history, literary appreciation, essays and miscellaneous writings, and social-science and cultural titles, showing a balance between historical scholarship and literature and between academic and popular publishing. Because public information is limited, this overview is based only on the books in the catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 弁言
- 序章 法治的中国逻辑
- 一、礼是法、㓝非刑
- 二、 近代以来的新传统
- 三、 一样的法治、不同的逻辑
- 第一章 “通”与“自然法”的思想传统
- 一、 变革与“变通”
- 二、 两种“自然法”
- 第二章 政治中的“通”的意识及其原理
- 一、 “封建、郡县”讨论中的“通”
- 二、 《周易》 ——“通”的哲理化与权威化
- 第三章 “制约”与“调和”的思想和制度
- 一、 “制约”与“调和” ——孟德斯鸠与伯伦知理
- 二、 中国政治传统中的“制约”与“调和”
- 第四章 严复的法治与宪政观
- 一、 “有责任政府”意义
- 二、 “通”与制约 ——议会功能之两面
- 三、 宪政的中国逻辑
- 第五章 梁启超对自然法的“发现”——中国法理学的思考
- 一、 两个法典论争
- 二、 西方的自然法与中国的课题
- 三、 儒家自然法的展开
- 第六章 现代视野下的法治与正当性
- 一、 一九四〇年代文化论争：梁漱溟与费孝通
- 二、 合法性与正当性 ——法治的政治思考
- 终章 法治 ——传统与现代之间
- 主要参考文献
- 后记
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About the author
Li Xiaodong is a Chinese author whose works span a notably wide range of subjects. Publicly available information about him is limited, and biographical details are not recorded in the available sources. Ten of his works are included here, covering categories such as inspirational personal growth, world history, law, exam preparation, medicine, and applied psychology. Books such as The Philosophy of Life in Calculus and The Wisdom of Dream of the Red Chamber suggest that he enjoys drawing lessons for life from imagery in mathematics and classical literature, while A Study of Ancient Egyptian Biographical Documents reflects an interest in world history and textual research. Law and Educational Psychology (21st Century Educational Science Textbook Series) show his attention to legal and educational issues. Other titles include Theory and Practice of Knowledge Engineering for Clinical Big Data in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which combines medicine with data-based knowledge, and a test-preparation guide offering 160 model essays for the Japanese writing section of the postgraduate entrance exam. Overall, his writing serves academic research, textbook compilation, and general readers alike.
Sun Jiang is an author about whom limited public information is available. His research and writing largely center on history, thought, and law. Ten of his works are included in the library, spanning categories such as history, social sciences, culture, world history, law, and Eastern philosophy. Representative works include Reexamining China's "Modernity," Integrating East and West: A Century of Classic Essays from the Xueheng School, and Studies in the History of Asian Concepts (Vol. 9), as well as National Language, Feudalism, Science, Utilitarianism, and Rule of Law. These works suggest that he prefers to approach historical and intellectual questions through key concepts, tracing how ideas evolve within a comparative Chinese-Western framework. His writing combines scholarly rigor with readability and is suited to readers interested in modern China, conceptual history, and intellectual and cultural questions.
