The Introduction of Modern Constitutionalism in East Asian Confucian Context: The Case of Vietnam in the Early Twentieth Century

東亞儒學脈絡中的現代憲政主義：以二十世紀初期的越南案例為論述基礎

此研究以潘佩珠與潘周楨之案例為論述基礎，輔以儒學文獻的深入瞭解，介紹了越南的現代憲政主義。二十世紀早期的儒學撰述者，為越南得以成功地接近西方現代憲政主義，奠定了深厚基礎，其貢獻涵括了：主權在民，明文憲法，自主權利，權力分立等。此研究演示了：在積極提倡現代憲政主義之風潮下，現代越南儒學者一方面忠於儒學，一方面則將儒學所反映之古典政治原則整合入他們的憲政思想與視野之中。本文作者針對儒學與現代憲政主義整合之可能性，提出了更為廣泛一般性之論述，並置於當代東亞之論述脈絡下做出詮釋。

Using the cases of Phan Bội Chau and Phan Chu Trinh, this study explores the contributions of the Confucian intellectuals in the introduction of modern constitutionalism in Vietnam. It shows that in the early twentieth century the Confucianists established the foundational steps which helped Vietnam fully access the fundamental values of western modern constitutionalism: popular sovereignty, written constitution, liberal rights, and the separation of powers. The study also demonstrates that the modern Vietnamese Confucianists while actively advocating modern constitutionalism have been loyal to Confucianism and integrated some classical political principles of Confucianism in their constitutionalist visions. In this study, I also raise a more general argument on the possibility of the integration of Confucianism with modern constitutionalism, which may make sense in the context of contemporary East Asia.