The notarial system in the Republic of China and Manchukuo (1920-1937)

On the basis of various documents and studies of Russian and foreign historians and jurists, the paper examines the development process of the public legal institution of notaries and its functioning in the Republic of China and Manchukuo. In 1920-1937, there were Russian notaries in the territory of Manchuria, in the city of Harbin. Their notarial practice was grounded on Russian civil and notarial legislation. The research focuses on the relationship that has been developed during civil regulation between Russian emigrants being a significant part of the Harbin society, notaries and the authorities of Manchuria. Based on new data obtained, the time frame for the establishment and activities of notarial institutions in Northeast China is determined. Besides, the author makes conclusions about the reasons for the institutional stability of the Russian notarial system acting in a multi-layered international environment and the specific nature of the notarial activity in the economic, social and political context of Harbin.