中国古代司法的衡平传统及其意义

On the Equitable Tradition of Ancient Chinese Justice and its Significance

中国古代司法官审理案件,当严格适用法律不能收到良好社会效果时,往往转而依据儒家伦理道 德观念进行裁判,形成独具特色的衡平传统。当前中国社会处于转型期,合法性与合理性的冲突时有发生,如 何处理这对矛盾以作出公正的判决?也许中国古代司法官的某些做法能给我们一些有益的启示。

When the strictly applying of laws didn't attain a good social effect in judging cases, ancient Chinese judges often turned to moral concept of Confucianism to make judgments, which formed the distinctive equitable tradition. In the period of transformation, the conflict between legality and rationality occurred from time to time, and the practice of ancient Chinese judges could give us some enlightenment when we judge.