%0 Journal Article %T Harmony as the main principle of the Chinese legal system: an introduction to the discussion %A Dargas, Marta %J Gdansk Journal of East Asian Studies %V 2015 %R 10.4467/23538724GS.15.021.4217 %N Issue 8 %P 127-135 %@ 2084-2902 %D 2015 %U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/gsaw/article/harmonia-jako-naczelna-zasada-chinskiego-porzadku-prawnego-wstep-do-rozwazan %X Chinese legal system is very complex. Understanding Chinese characteristics requires becoming acquainted with Chinese culture and philosophy. Starting from the third generation of leaders we can observe convergence of governance models postulated by Confucianism and Legalism, but in a modern version. From time immemorial, the idea of harmony played a decisive role in Chinese social and political thought. Currently, concepts such as ‘One Belt, One Road’, or the search for economic stabilization as part of the ‘New Normal’ still correspond with striving for harmony in all aspects of life, rooted for centuries in the minds of Chinese citizens. At the current stage of development, to achieve harmony it is necessary to develop a social and political consensus around a new stage of reform and openness policy, social harmony, scientific approach to development and, above all, recognition of the Chinese characteristics.