Part I　Difficult Start

The development of the law in China dates back a long way. From the legendary times of clans and tribes, China experienced the rise and fall of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties all the way down to the Republic of China. During that long period, China has accumulated a rich and remarkable culture of law. The ancient civilization of the legal system is the precious wealth of this nation, and also constitutes a cultural foundation and unique resources that cannot be ignored in building the rule of law. Conversely, it has also become a heavy burden that the rule of law cannot cast off. It is hard to move forward with a burden on our shoulders. However, one cannot always choose which historical factors to select or abandon. There are parts of a whole system built over time. Tradition, like some genetic element, will remain in people’s bodies and perform its role at any time. It will also pass on down to children and grandchildren through kinship, affecting generation after generation. Therefore, there is no denying that China’s ancient civilization of law is the historic foundation and a factor influencing the development of the rule of law in contemporary China. Understanding this process is the cognitive and cultural preparation for understanding modern China and embarking on the road of the rule of law.