—A Chinese Lawyer’s Commitment to the Rule of Law and His Passion for the People
**The Meaning Behind the Title**
“Black Mountain” symbolizes the pinnacle, abundance, and sanctity of life, much like Yang Shaogang’s legal career: overcoming the challenges of the legal journey with resilience, achieving professional excellence through knowledge, and safeguarding the well-being of the people with sincerity. This biography not only chronicles the growth of a legal professional but also reflects the ideals and perseverance in China’s legal reform process.
As the preface states, “China’s path to the rule of law foretells that Chinese legal professionals face hardships unparalleled by their Western counterparts,” and Yang Shaogang’s story is a vivid illustration of this challenging yet hopeful journey toward the rule of law.
**Scholar and Commoner: The Dual Perspective of a Lawyer’s True Nature**
Yang Shaogang possesses a unique professional perspective, having a background in engineering, liberal arts, and law.As a scholar-lawyer, he elevates cases to the level of legal theory, crafting defense arguments that blend philosophical insight with passion, combining academic depth with humanistic concern. As a people-oriented lawyer, he has dedicated years to advocating for the marginalized—from engineers and elderly professors to the “first civilian advocate for AIDS prevention”—listening to the voices of the underprivileged and using eloquent arguments to challenge authority in cases involving housing, healthcare, compensation, and other critical issues of livelihood.
His secret to success lies in the seamless integration of legal principles and empathy.
**Political Participation and Practical Action: Putting the Rule of Law into Practice**
As a member of the China Democratic National Construction Association, a People’s Congress representative, and a government advisor, Yang Shaogang transcends the role of a mere policy advisor, becoming a pragmatic public servant. He has driven reforms in the detention and deportation system, improved the medical accident handling mechanism, and submitted a petition to the State Council urging legislation on AIDS prevention and control. The book details how he transforms his case handling experience into policy recommendations, using legal wisdom to resolve social conflicts, and upholding the principle that “stability must be maintained by first safeguarding rights.”
**Classic Cases: A Glimpse of Life Under the Rule of Law**
– After a decade of advocating for a persecuted actor, he finally secured justice by writing three letters to the mayor;
– In a chlorine gas leak incident, he balanced the interests of the public with social stability;
– He stood up for a vulnerable woman against domestic violence, and after a decade of appeals, reunited her with her son;
– He cleared the name of Professor Gao Yaojie, engaging in a fierce courtroom debate to expose the illegal medical practice scandal…
These cases are not merely professional achievements but also reflect the legal challenges and progress of China during its transitional period.
**Cross-Boundary Literary Sensibility: The Harmony of Rationality and Poetry**
The book also reveals Yang Shaogang’s literary heritage—his early years of poetry and prose writing have endowed his defense arguments and legal proposals with both rigorous logic and profound humanistic warmth. This “poetic quality of a legal professional” is the unique foundation of his commitment to the rule of law.
**Recommendation**
Famous Chinese legal scholar Li Changdao writes in the book’s preface: “If the rule of law is a beam of light, Yang Shaogang is the torchbearer. He has proven that a lawyer’s value lies not only in winning court battles but in how the law illuminates the lives of ordinary people.”
**Target Audience**
Legal professionals, public policy researchers, social activists, and all readers interested in China’s legal system and citizens’ rights.
Feng Zhenghu
March 12, 2025
