专职法司的起源与中国司法传统的特征

The Origin of Professional Judge and Characteristics of China's Judicial Tradition

本文旨在探究古代中国专职法司的起源。所谓专职法司,就是在统一的王权体系之内专门执掌刑事审判职责的机构或职员。他们不是独立的司法机关或职官,仅仅作为从中央地方各级政治长官在审判事务方面的专门助手或僚属。从中央而言,这样的专职法司先后有"李"、"理"、"士"、"士师"、"大理"、"司寇"、"廷尉"、"刑部"等。本文对这些专司审判的机构或职官的起源做了详细的考察。进而以考察结果进一步说明:司法是国政一部分、君主近臣执掌真正司法、兵刑合一、非程序化等四者是中国传统司法的四大主要特征。

This paper aims to explore the origin of the Chinese Special Fasi , which refers to the institutions and staff in charge of criminal trials within the unitary monarchic system. They were not independent judicial organizations or officials, but the special assistants or aides to support governmental officials＇ criminal justice. In the central government, the special Fasi appeared in the name of Li （李） , Li （理）, Shi （士）, Dali （大理） ,Sikou（司寇）, Tingwei（廷尉）, Xingbu（ The Board of Punishment 刑部） etc. This thesis undertakes a detailed examination on the origin of those institutions or staff. It proposes that： judicature was part of regime; the emperor and his faithful ministers controlled the judicial power; there was a same source of the military force and penal punishments ; and it was non - procedural based. These are the four major characteristics of Chinese judicial tradition.