Lorenz von Stein and Chinese Constitutional Movement: A Reexamination of Legal History

史坦恩與中國立憲運動︰法制史的再檢視

本文探討德國法學者史坦恩與中國清末民初立憲運動的關聯性。史坦恩的國家學思想深刻影響日本明治憲政，形成日本近代憲政思潮，這個影響力並且跨越日本，持續影響當時的中國立憲運動。探討這段法制史，如果不能掌握明治憲法背後來自於德意志憲法思想的影響，特別是史坦恩的國家學思想，就無法完整呈現當時的憲法思潮與脈絡。在這樣的理解下，中國的立憲運動，實質上穿越日本明治憲政，深刻連結當時的歐洲文明。國家與社會的互動法則，也形成我國憲法史中「法思想」與「法文化」的核心議題。

This article aims to explore the relationship between Lorenz von Stein and Chinese constitutional movement. It will undertake an historical comparison of events in order to interpret the development of the Chinese constitution during the late Qing and the early period of the Chinese Republic. It is well known that the Chinese constitution (1905-1916) was greatly influenced by the Meiji constitution, but it is often overlooked that the Meiji constitution was actually directly influenced by the German constitution, especially by Stein’s thoughts on political theory. It has always been acknowledged that Stein had an influence on Chinese constitution; however, the relationship was often associated with the connection between Germany, Japan, and China. In this article, we try to explore his influence on those who drafted the Meiji constitution to further understand Stein’s indirect influence on the Chinese constitution through those Japanese pioneers. In particular, we discover the dynamic law of historical change which presents in Stein’s writings, if we review the interactive law between state and society in the Chinese constitutional history. 本文探討德國法學者史坦恩與中國清末民初立憲運動的關聯性。史坦恩的國 家學思想深刻影響日本明治憲政，形成日本近代憲政思潮，這個影響力並且跨越日本，持續影響當時的中國立憲運動。探討這段法制史，如果不能掌握 明治憲法背後來自於德意志憲法思想的影響，特別是史坦恩的國家學思想，就無法完整呈現當時的憲法思潮與脈絡。在這樣的理解下，中國的立憲運動 ，實質上穿越日本明治憲政，深刻連結當時的歐洲文明。國家與社會的互動法則，也形成我國憲法史中「法思想」與「法文化」的核心議題。