This article traces the influence and role of W.A.P. Martin, an American missionary in China, who translated a monogram on international law into Chinese. Herny Wheaton's Elements of International Law(1864), T.D.Woolsey's Introduction to the Study of ...
This article traces the influence and role of W.A.P. Martin, an American missionary in China, who translated a monogram on international law into Chinese. Herny Wheaton's Elements of International Law(1864), T.D.Woolsey's Introduction to the Study of International Law(1877), and J.C.Bluntschli's Das moderne Volkerrecht(1880) were published.
These three books are the first systematical introduction of western international law in East Asia. Martins translations were also reprinted in both Japan and Korea. He is known as a pioneer in legal sciences. In Korea, Bluntschlis monogram had a enormous influence upon the live of Kojong from king into emperor, and for the theoretical basis of nullification of Japan-Korea Protection Treaty of 1905 etc.
In short, we have to remember Martin's intellectual effort and achievement in East Asia not only in the field of international law, hut also missionary endeavors.