牙人角色演进与中国古代商业中介机构之法律地位探析——从牙人称谓的流变视角出发

A Research on Evolution of Broker's Role and Legal Status of Ancient Chinese Commercial Agency——from the Perspective of Evolution of Appellation of Broker

中国古代商业中介制度的产生和发展有一个复杂的流变过程。但由于中国传统历史撰写上的精英主义倾向,各种史籍却对其记载不彰。从牙制的称谓流变入手,对这个最具中国特色的古代商业中介制度进行必要的法律史学考察,可以发现牙人从牲畜、田宅中介拓展到一般商业,从经济角色过渡到社会管理和社会治理角色的大致路径。

The development of ancient Chinese commercial intermediary system is a complex transformation process. But because of the tendency towards elitism in Chinese traditional history,the historical records are not clear. The article starts with the perspective of evolution of appellation of broker and then makes a necessary legal history review of the most ancient Chinese commercial intermediary system. It reveals the way how broker extends from livestock and real estate to general business and how it transform from the economic role to social management role.