China's Confucian-based imperial legal system developed and flourished for more than 3000 years. Its disintegration, following the collapse of the last dynasty in 1911, ushered in a new century of legal experimentation, development and intermittent disorder. No single book could possibly offer a completely comprehensive discussion of every element of the rich and diverse system of Chinese law. However, the articles included in this volume illustrate the very best of English language academic scholarship in this area. They represent a collective introduction to the law and legal theory of China and provide a perceptive and well informed guide to a huge subject area of enormous depth and complexity