民间法规与罚戏

Performance Prescribed by Folk Law as Apologetic Action

在中国古代,对违反乡约、族规、社规、行规等民间法规的人,有一种罚其出资请戏班为大家演戏的做法,叫"罚戏"。罚戏主要施行于禁赌、维护行业规范、维护公共秩序、保护公共财产等范围。罚戏将严肃而冷漠的执法行动与热闹而欢愉的娱乐活动结合在一起,既起到惩戒的作用,维护了社会秩序,又可以调和气氛、减少对立,缓解了社会紧张,同时也促进了戏曲的繁荣,是极具人性化、民间化色彩的一种创举。

In ancient China, those who violated folk law used to be saddled with the burden of treating the members of his community to a show as a means of punishment. The purposes of such punishment include preventing people from gambling, maintaining code of conduct in various trades and public order, and protecting public goods. Such means of punishment proved to be humane and effective.