On March 13th, the 47th lecture of the BNU Zhuhai Legal Lecture Series, titled "Critique of Civil Law and Critical Civil Law Studies," was successfully held in Room C406, Lijiao Building, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai. This lecture was given by Geng Lin, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Law School of Tsinghua University, Director of the Civil Law Research Association of the China Law Society, and Executive Director of the Beijing Property Law Research Association. Bi Jingwei, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Science and Technology of Macau, served as the panelist. Associate Professor Zhang Zongqing from the Center on the Rule of Law and Development of Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai presided over the event. Students from Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai actively engaged in the session, immersing themselves in listening and learning.

As the lecture commenced, Professor Geng Lin forthrightly introduced why he chose the lecture title - "Critique of Civil Law and Critical Civil Law Studies." Professor Geng initiated his discourse from the core tenets of civil law theory and seamlessly integrated it with societal practice. He emphasized that civil law scholars are obligated to cultivate a critical mindset in the advancement of civil law.

Subsequently, Professor Geng Lin provided a detailed explanation of the lecture topic from the following five aspects.

To commence his lecture, Professor Geng Lin stressed that civil law should stand as a dynamic discipline, one that proactively addresses civil and societal concerns. He argued that civil law is inherently a practical field, and the paramount objective for Chinese civil law scholars in their study must be to confront and resolve the unique challenges faced by China's civil law system. Proceeding from this foundation, Professor Geng engaged in a comparative law analysis, highlighting the distinct characteristics of Chinese and Western civil law and underscoring the concept of neutrality that is peculiar to Chinese civil law. In the third and fourth segments of his lecture, Professor Geng critically examined the deficiencies in China's current civil law framework in addressing social issues, critiquing from the angles of traditional theory, civil law philosophy, and specific legal systems. Moving into the fifth part, he cautioned against trends such as the quantification of academic achievement and the absence of scholarly accumulation. Professor Geng also introduced the concepts of a civil law academic community and a civil law theoretical community, urging researchers to consistently uphold a spirit of critical inquiry.

In his concluding remarks, Professor Geng Lin encapsulated the essence of his lecture, asserting that the advancement of Chinese civil law must be grounded in realism. He contended that the future of Chinese civil law hinges on the dedicated learning posture, critical awareness, and the unwavering critical spirit of its scholars.

After Professor Geng Lin finished his lecture, Assistant Professor Bi Jingwei from the Faculty of Law of Macau University of Science and Technology supplemented and summarized the lecture. Professor Bi extended the concept of neutrality in Chinese civil law to a deeper philosophical question: "Is it the law that is transforming the nation, or is it the nation that is transforming the law?" Assistant Professor Bi also cited his own study abroad experience to encourage students to not forget to value the study of traditional theories while exploring and innovating in the new era.

At the end of the lecture, the students on site had a cordial exchange of ideas and thoughts with Professor Geng Lin and Professor Bi Jingwei. Thus, the 47th lecture of the BNU Zhuhai Legal Lecture Series came to a successful conclusion amidst enthusiastic applause on site.