영미계약법상 Promissory Estoppel 원칙 — 중국계약법상 Promissory Estoppel도입의 입법론적 근거 —

"Promissory Estoppel" is one of contract theories of Anglo -American Law. In other word, "My word is my bond." According to the contract theory of Anglo-American Law, formation and modification of contract can not be enforced without Consideration. However, in reality, situation like these happen. A person, A, promised to donate $50,000 to S university for the construction of a new building. S university trusted A's promise and started the construction, but A changed his/her mind not to donate. A person, B, promised C to support his/her tuition fee when he/she quits job and enter university. C trusted this and quit his/her job, but B changed his/her mind. In these cases, victims have no legal evidences to exercise their rights. Before 40's in 20th century, judges used "Equitable Estoppel" to solve these kind of cases. Then judges try their best to find valid Consideration. A British judge, Lord Cairns, proposed an idea of "Promissory Estoppel" when he was hearing 'Hughes v. Metropolitan Railway Co. trial in 1877, but he could not come into the spotlight. This idea had introduced by a British judge, Lord Denning, in 1947, and Anglo-American Law and many scholars have been conducting this principle in many legal cases so far. This article regarding "Promissory Estoppel" of Anglo-American Law would compare with and complement the Chinese Contract law.