北宋前期审刑院制度述略

On the system of Case Review Court in the early period of the Northern Song Dynasty

审刑院作为北宋前期最高的司法机构,是在宋初加强中央集权的背景下设立的,它的主要职能在于复核地方上奏的疑狱和限制宰相的司法权。其院址及人员的配置自设立之后几经变化,最后在北宋中期推行的官制改革中被废除。

As the highest judicial institution in the early period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Case Review Court was set up under the background of strengthening centralism. Its main function lied in reexamining knotty cases and restricting prime minister＇s jurisdiction. Its address and personnel changed many times since it was set up. It was finally abolished in the reform of official systems in the middle period of the Northern Song Dynasty.