曶鼎铭“寇禾”案所见西周诉讼程序及其启示

Western Zhou Dynasty's Legal Procedures and Its Enlightenment in the Case of“Kou He”from the Epigraph of Huding

曶鼎铭文是研究西周时期法制史的重要材料之一,记载有两个完整的案例,涉及当时法律中各方各面的问题。由其中的"寇禾"案出发,可以对西周时期的诉讼程序有所了解。"寇禾"案的诉讼程序主要有如下几步:第一步,起诉;第二步,裁判者第一次裁判;第三步,被告方提出和解方案;第四步,和解未成,原告方继续起诉;第五步,裁判者第二次裁判;第六步,诉讼双方基于裁判达成和解方案。在此基础上,结合其他一些西周诉讼类金文,可以知道西周时期的诉讼程序有五个基础步骤:第一,起诉;第二,原告方陈述;第三,裁判者询问;第四,裁判者进行裁决;第五,执行裁决。这五个步骤在目前所见的西周诉讼类金文中基本都得到了贯彻。西周时期的诉讼程序同时可以对现代的法治建设有所启示,例如其中体现出的对裁判的尊重、对诉讼当事人意愿的保障等。

Inscriptions on Huding are one of the important materials to study the history of the Western Zhou Dynasty. There are two complete cases, which involve the various aspects of the law at that time. By the second case（＂Kou He＂ case）, we can under- stand the Western Zhou Dynasty proceedings. There are mainly following steps in the legal procedures. The first step is to pros- ecute; the second step is that the judge makes the initial iudgment; the third step is that the defendant proposes a reconciliation program; the fourth step is that the plaintiff goes on to prosecute if reconciliation is not reached. The fifth step is the second judg- ment; the sixth step is that the two sides reach a settlement based on the referee. On this basis, combined with other Western Zhou＇ s litigationinscriptions on ancient bronze objects, we can know that the Western Zhou Dynasty litigation procedures have five basic steps; first, prosecutiom second, the plaintiff＇s statement~ third, the judge asks questions; the fourth, the judge makes a verdict; the fifth, to execute the verdict. These five steps in the current findings of the Western Zhou Dynasty litigation inscrip- tions basically have been implemented. The litigation process in the Western Zhou Dynasty can also he enlightened to the construc- tion of the rule of law in modern times, such as respect for the verdict, and safeguarding of the will of the litigants.