On 17 June 2026, Mingyue Gao delivered an invited lecture entitled “Chinese Family Law from a Constitutional Perspective: Theory and Practice” at Southeast University School of Law. Held in the fourth-floor conference room of the School of Law, the lecture was chaired by Associate Professor Yu Tao, Assistant to the Dean.
Focusing on how constitutional values inform family law, the lecture explored the role of equality, freedom, dignity and the protection of human rights in shaping and guiding legal relationships involving marriage, parenthood and inheritance. It also examined how these values find expression in family law through legislation, judicial interpretation and reforms to the adjudication of family disputes.
Drawing on complex family law cases, Gao considered the boundaries of fundamental rights in specific disputes from a constitutional perspective. He explored the constitutional reasoning and underlying values of family law, offering a fresh perspective on the theory and practice of Chinese family law.
The discussion session was lively, with faculty members and students actively raising questions about the lecture’s themes and related issues in family law practice. Gao responded to the questions in turn and engaged in in-depth exchanges. Participants praised the lecture for its theoretical depth and practical insights, noting that it broadened their perspectives on family law research and practice.
