Culpa in Contrahendo in Chinese Contract Law

• Author: Han Shiyuan
• Pages: 158-170

HAN (DO NOT DELETE) 2014/7/7 8:47 PM

158 TSINGHUA CHINA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 6:157

CULPA IN CONTRAHENDO IN CHINESE CONTRACT LAW

HAN Shiyuan

I. INTRODUCTION

The principle of culpa in contrahendo has had a major influence1

on legal systems worldwide since it was developed by Rudolph von

Jhering 153 years ago.2 In the People’s Republic of China, culpa in

contrahendo was first introduced as a result of theory reception.3

The former Economic Contract Law (1981) 4 and the General

Principles of Civil Law (1986)5 have partially accepted the idea of

culpa in contrahendo. Provisions of the PRC Contract Law (1999)

bear resemblance to culpa in contrahendo (arts. 42 and 43), with

numerous references to foreign civil law theories and provisions of

the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts

(PICC, arts.2.1.15 and 2.1.16) and the Principles of European

Contract Law (PECL, arts.2:301 and 2:302). These provisions are

interpreted as precontractual obligations and the liability for culpa in

contrahendo. Article 58 of the Contract Law on the effects of a void

contract also includes some effects of the liability for culpa in

contrahendo. Hereafter, Chinese legislation (Part II), judicial

1 VGL. HANS DÖLLE, JURISTISCHE ENTDECKUNGEN (1958); Wang Zejian ( 王泽鉴), Minfa

Xueshuo yu Panli Yanjiu (民法学说与判例研究第四册) [Theory and Case Study of Civil Law Vol.4]

1 (1991).

2 Rudolf von Jhering, Culpa in contrahendo, oder Schadenersatz bei nichtigen oder nicht zur

Perfection gelangten Vertragen, in1861 JAHRBÜCHER FÜR DIE DOGMATIK DES HEUTIGEN RÖMISCHEN

UND DEUTSCHEN PRIVATRECHTS (Ger.).

3 See Wang Zejian (王泽鉴), Minfa Xueshuo yu Panli Yanjiu Diyice (民法学说与判例研究第一

册) [Theory and Case Study of Civil Law Vol.1] 77 (1975 ); Liu Dekuan (刘得宽), Minfa Zhu Wenti yu

Xin Zhanwang (民法诸问题与新展望) [The Problems of Civil Law and New Perspectives] 482 (2002).

See also Yin Luxian (尹鲁先), Diyueshang Guoshi Zeren Chutan (缔约上过失责任初探) [Preliminary

Study on Culpa in Contrahendo], 1 FAXUE YANJIU (法学研究) [CHINESE J. L.] 67–72 (1990); Cu i

Jianyuan ( 崔建 远), Diyueshang Guoshi Zeren Lun ( 缔约上过失责任论) [Study on Culpa in

Contrahendo] 3 JILIN DAXUE SHEHUI KEXUE XUEBAO (吉林大学社会科学学报) [JILIN U. J. SOC. SCI.]

23–28 (1992).

4 Jingji Hetong Fa ( 经济合同法) [Economic Contract Law](pro mulgated by th e Standing

Comm.Nat’l People’s Cong., Dec. 13, 1981, effective July 1, 1982) art.16 (Chinalawinfo)(After an

economic contract has been confirmed to be void, the parties shall return to each other any property that

they have acquired pursuant to the contract. If one party is at fault, it shall compensate the other party

for losses incurred as a result thereof. If both parties are at fault, each party shall be commensurately

liable.).

5 Minfa Tongze (民法通则) [General Principles of Civil Law] (promulgated by Nat’l Peo ple’s

Cong., Apr. 12, 1986, effective Jan. 1, 1987) art. 61(1) (Chinalawinfo) (After a civil act has been

determined to be null and v oid or has been rescinded, the party who acquired property as a result of the

act shall return it to the party who suffered a loss. The erring party shall compensate the other party for

the losses it suffered as a result of the act; if both sides are in error, they shall each bear their proper

share of the liability.).