典之风俗与典之法律——本土视域中的典制渊源

The Custom and the Law on Vadium——the origin of the institution of vadium from the domestic field of vision

田宅典卖是中国传统民事制度中一种独特的现象,这一现象往往被简单地图解为“典权”——以所有权为基础的西方物权概念。方法论的分析使我们看到:将“典权”概念套用于传统的典制,非但造成了物权法自身法理的矛盾,而且扭曲了“典”这一社会现象本身。问题的关键是:中国传统民事法律制度中缺乏对“权利”的有效支撑,于是物权乃至所有权无法获得实质意义。因此,我们有必要放弃“典权”的概念,回到典制本身——一个延续了一千多年的活生生的制度,以本土的概念还原“典”这一古老的民事传统。透过这一视域,我们重新回溯了“典”的源头,我们看到:导致典制产生的根本力量是中国古代的土地制度(均田制)、佛教信仰和宗族制度,这三种力量在北魏的交汇,使我们更加确信:典制起源于被汤因比认为曾经孕育了一个新文明的南北朝时期。均田、佛寺、宗族三种社会力量的共同作用,恰恰说明了典制在历史上的独特性。

The sale of cropland and house in the way of vadium in the traditional Chinese civil legal institution is a peculiar phenomenon. It is commonly diagrammatized as ＂the right of vadium＂ -a concept of property right in the west based on the ownership. A methodological analysis reveals that： a mechanical ap- plication of the concept of ＂the right of vadium＂ to the traditional institution of vadium will not only result in a paradox in the theory of property right, but also in a distortation of vadium as a social phenomenon. However, the key issue is that there was lack of solid support for the ＂right＂ in the traditional Chinese legal institution. Consequently, property right and also ownership could not acquire substantial significance. Thus, we must abandon the concept of ＂right of vadium＂, and go back to the institution of vadium itself- an enlivened institution existing for over a thousand years, reverting the venerable tradition in the light of indigenous concept. In this way, we can trace back the origin of vadium. We can reveal that the dynamism resulting in the institution of vadium is the land institution in ancient China （ the equalization of land ）, Buddhism and clan institution. The three factors intermingled during the dynasty of North Wei. Thus we can be more confident that the institution of vadium originated in the period of North and South in Chinese his- tory, a historical period that was considered by Arnold J. Toynbee as gestation of a new civilization of China. The intermingle of the three factors of the equalization of land, Buddhism temples and religion is itself an evidence of the uniqueness of vadium.