The 118th session of the BNU Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series, titled “Why is History Important for Legal Research? — Taking Civil Procedure Law as an Example,” was successfully held in Room 201, Teaching Building 4, Beijing Normal University. The lecture was delivered by Professor Chen Hangping, a tenured professor at Tsinghua University Law School, with Associate Professor Guo Xiang serving as the host. Professor Chai Rong, Professor Xiong Yuemin, and Associate Professor Li Xiaoxiao from the Law School served as panelists, joined by over 100 students from the Law School.

At the beginning of the lecture, Associate Professor Guo Xiang warmly welcomed Professor Chen Hangping and provided a brief introduction to his research interests and academic achievements.

The lecture centered on the critical importance of historical research within the legal field, using civil procedure law as a primary example. Professor Chen Hangping argued that the concept of "law" prevalent in current domestic academic works and textbooks is a form of "rule-based law" presented independently of actual disputes, a product of Western modernity. He posited that this approach effectively strips law of its temporality and spatiality, making it unreasonable to conduct research that prioritizes conclusions over evidence based solely on Western standards.

Professor Chen further elaborated on the origins of this Western concept, analyzing the influencing factors, the environment of its emergence, and its specific formation process. By way of comparison, he emphasized that the concept of law within the Chinese legal context is fundamentally different, functioning as a type of "public opinion law." Finally, he reiterated the necessity of reintegrating history into legal research. He highlighted the one-sidedness of current civil procedure model transformation theories and advocated for shifting from a linear historical perspective to a "coordinate system" theory.

During the discussion session, Professor Chai Rong noted that Professor Chen's research is highly significant for strengthening the connection between legal history and departmental law disciplines. Professor Xiong Yuemin emphasized the importance of constructing an independent civil procedure law system for China. Associate Professor Li Xiaoxiao added that historical research is not merely about piling up facts; rather, it requires reflecting on valuable aspects to explain the legitimacy of institutional evolution and address current issues.

As the lecture drew to a close, Professor Chai Rong expressed gratitude on behalf of the Law School to Professor Chen Hangping. The session provided students with a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the value of historical research in the field of law, concluding amidst warm applause from the faculty and students in attendance.