The View of Early 20th Century Chinese Intellectuals on Ancient China's International Law

Abstract

It's well known that the basic ideas and principles of modern international law originated in Europe. In a period of the early 20th century, however, a number of Chinese intellectuals examined and demonstrated that international law had already existed during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States Periods in China. Through researching the related documents, the author demonstrates that European international law in the process of its expansion and universalization did not simply replace the conventional Chinese legal culture; the Chinese intellectuals' response to the Western impact constituted a genuine political interaction with the Western ideas and systems.