Transplant of Civil Code in Japan, Taiwan, and China: With the Focus of Legal Evolution

本文旨在介紹西方民法移植入日本、臺灣與中國的過程,以西方法律對傳統文化,以及亞洲法律的西方化為討論焦點。本文指出該移植過程的幾項特色,以及東亞在接受西方法律後的結果。第一,為符合市場經濟導向的社會與經濟變遷,西方法律被大量移植入日本、臺灣與中國。第二,西方的法律概念在東亞的法律體系西方化的過程中,扮演重要的角色。第三,在東亞國家開展市場經濟,並經歷社會 轉型之後,西方的平等與個人主義概念更加內化於東亞國家法律體系之中。最後,在西方式的民法實踐下,傳統文化被嚴重侵蝕;同時,東亞民法明確地實施個人主義式的個人權利,且被用以支持社會經濟發展。

This paper is aimed to introduce the transplantation of western civil codes in Japan, Taiwan and China, with focus on influence of western law on traditional cultures in Asia and on the westernization of Asian laws. This paper points out some features of the process and outcome of the reception of western law in East Asia. First, the western laws were transplanted in Japan, Taiwan, and China to primarily accommodate for social and economic changes that occurred following the shift towards market economies. Second, reception of legal theories of western law played an important role in the westernization of East Asian legal systems. Third, after East Asian countries carried out market economic reforms and underwent a transformation of social change, their legal systems were further revised to embody the western concept of equality and individualism. Additionally, the traditional culture appears to be eroding following the implementation of western-style civil codes. East Asian civil codes are actually reinforcing these personal rights which are used to support economic development.