The College hosted Professor Sandro Schipani, founder of the Centre for Latin American Legal Studies at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, for a lecture on the Pothier and the Reordered Digest both on Haidian Campus and online on the evening of 19 September.
The event was moderated by Professor Fei Anling of the College. Guest commentators included Professor Huang Feng from the Institute for Criminal Law Science at Beijing Normal University, Professor Xue Jun from Peking University Law School, Professor Luo Zhimin from CUPL Law School, and Assistant Professor Li Lin from CUPL’s School of Master of Laws Education.
In her opening remarks, Fei Anling extended a warm welcome to all guests and attendees, stressing the significance of the lecture in fostering Sino-Italian legal exchange and deepening academic understanding.
During the lecture, Prof. Schipani introduced the historical background and legal significance of the Digest’s compilation. He noted that the codification of Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civilis was a monumental and intricate undertaking, whose success lay not only in its collection and organisation of extensive legal texts, but also in its profound influence on legal education and judicial practice. He then turned to Pothier’s New Order of the Digest, highlighting how this reordering offered fresh perspectives and interpretive approaches that continue to inform modern readings of Roman law.
In the discussion session, Huang Feng emphasised that the Digest’s editorial techniques, along with Pothier’s re-reading strategies, offer valuable insights for addressing practical legal issues in China. He stressed the importance of building a Chinese legal knowledge system with independent theoretical foundations. Xue Jun reflected on the influence of the systematic arrangement of the German Civil Code on China’s Civil Code, arguing that every era may reinterpret and develop its legal framework according to its own needs. Luo Zhimin highlighted how Pothier’s reordering provides a new lens through which to engage with Roman law, advocating for a deeper appreciation of jurisprudential language. Drawing on Kantian legal philosophy, she affirmed the principle that law should always treat individuals as ends rather than means. Li Lin offered a detailed analysis of Pothier’s interpretive contributions to the Digest and their contemporary applications, especially regarding the transfer of property rights in the Chinese Civil Code, where Roman legal insights remain highly relevant.
The lecture and subsequent discussions demonstrated the enduring relevance of Roman law in contemporary legal scholarship and underscored the importance of revisiting classical legal texts in the evolution of modern legal thought. In closing, Fei expressed her gratitude to the speaker, commentators and participants. The event concluded in a warm and collegial atmosphere, marking another successful session in the ‘Sino-Italian Legal Forum’ lecture series.
