If research on traditional issues is conducted from a practical perspective and focused on the goal of extracting useful elements that can contribute to building a Chinese-style modernization of the rule of law and constructing an independent Chinese legal knowledge system, then the understanding and definition of tradition in legal research must be based on certain practical conditions. From a practical standpoint, research on traditional issues should not be limited to verifying the authenticity of information contained in textual materials; instead, it should focus on exploring the significance behind these materials for modern rule of law. Therefore, when facing tradition, the task of legal scholars is to build a bridge connecting the past and the present, explore the meaning behind texts, and seek instructions for regulating people’s behavior from a diachronic perspective. To conduct research under this goal, it is necessary to broaden the vision of “tradition”, clarify the connotation of cultural “excellence”, handle the relationship between the study and interpretation of texts, and integrate the values of the nation and the times.

tradition, legal culture, legal interpretation, legal research