传统法律文化中的礼法关系及其启示

Relations of“Ritual”and“Law”in Traditional Law Culture and the Revelation

习近平总书记在中共中央政治局第十八次集体学习时强调,对中华文明"应多一份尊重,多一份思考。对古代的成功经验,我们要本着择其善者而从之、择其不善者而去之的科学态度"。在传统法律文化中,礼与法之间的关系尤为密切,礼是法的内在精神,法是礼的外在表现形式。二者紧密结合,形成了传统法律文化特有的法律制度形式,二者的结合也在维护封建君主专制统治和封建纲常礼教以及促进国家和谐安宁等方面发挥了重要作用。当今社会正处于不断变化和转型的时代背景之下,如何借鉴传统法律文化中的精髓,将礼的思想精华运用到当今的国家法治中,值得我们深思和探索。在现代的立法活动以及司法实践中,尤其是刑事判决方面,更应当对礼的精华予以借鉴和吸收,促进国家立法和刑事司法向着更加公平合理的方向发展。

During the 18th collective study by CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Gener- al Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that ＂We should respect more and think more about Chi- nese civilization. As for the ancient successful experience, we should keep the essence and discard the dregs＂. In terms of traditional law culture, ＂ritual＂ is the internal spirit of ＂law＂, while the latter is the external form of the former. The close-knit integration of the two constitutes the unique traditional legal system, and plays a key role in safeguarding the feudal autocratic monarchy ruling and forwarding the national harmony. It is worth explo- ring the way of how to draw lessons from traditional law culture and apply the spiritual essence of ＂ritual＂ to the present governing by law under the background of great social transformation. Modern legislation and judicial practice, esp. criminal verdict, should attach more importance to the essence of ＂ritual＂ so that the national legislation and criminal jus- tice would be more and more fair and reasonable.