Legal Reform in Taiwan under Japanese Colonial Rule, 1895-1945

Taiwan’s modern legal system--quite different from those of both traditional China and the People’s Republic--has evolved since the advent of Japanese rule in 1895. Japan has gradually adopted Western law during the 19th-century and when it occupied Taiwan--a frontier society composed of Han Chinese settlers--its codes were instituted for the purpose of rapidly assimilating the Taiwanese people into Japanese society.

Tay-sheng Wang’s comprehensive study lays a solid foundation for future analyses of Taiwanese law. It documents how Western traditions influenced the formation of Taiwan’s modern legal structure through the conduit of Japanese colonial rule and demonstrates the extent to which legal concepts diverged from the Chinese legal tradition and moved toward Western law.

Tay-sheng Wang is professor of law at National Taiwan University.

Preface

Introduction

Background of Legal Reform

Reception of Western Law in Colonial Legislation

Modern Judiciary in the Colony

Criminal Justice and Changing Society

Westernization of Civil Justice

Appraisal and Legacy

Conclusion

Appendix A: Development of Taiwanese Law

Appendix B: The Law Relating to Laws and Ordinances

Appendix C: The Civil, Commercial, and Criminal Law

Appendix D: The Bandit Punishment Law

Glossary

Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliography

Index