中国传统“调处”的非诉讼经验

Non-litigious Experience of Chinese Traditional "Mediation"

中国传统调处制度是一种"非诉讼纠纷解决机制"的古代模式。中国西周时期已经有了关于调处的制度性规定,该制度发展至明代时已经相当完备。依据"调处人"的不同身份,可以将中国古代的"调处息讼"大体上分为民间调处、官府调处和官批民调三种类型。中国传统调处制度具有:适用范围的限定性;调处方式的灵活多样性;调处过程的劝谕性;调处依据的多元性等特点。传统社会的调处制度与现代社会的"非诉讼纠纷解决机制"具有相似性、相通性,其包含着"非诉讼纠纷解决机制"的诸多智慧与资源,同时也为自身的现代转型铺设了道路。在中西法律文化的碰撞事例中,古老的调处转型为现代的调解。

Chinese traditional mediation mechanism is an ancient modal of 'non-litigious mechanism of dispute solution'. This paper aims to systematically expound the mechanism regarding its history, main types and characteristics, its basis of economy, society, mind and cultural psychology. The ancient mechanism provides the modern system with wisdom and resources for a 'non litigious' dispute solution. It paves itself a path of modernization as well. This paper also reviews on the process of its modernization and analyzes its differences and similarities from the modern system.