律令体制抑或礼法体制?——重新认识中国古代法

The Ritsuryo System or Etiquette System: Reacquainting the Ancient Chinese Laws

"律令说"创自日本学者,20世纪90年代以后流行于中国。但"律令说"难以囊括古代中国的法历史,难以涵盖古代中国的法体系,将之移治中国古代法存在局限。中国古代法是礼法,包括礼典、律典、习惯法三个子系统,经历了原型期、重组期、成熟期、衰落期四个阶段。礼法体制的重拾,是认识中国古代法的自我、破解中华法系遗传密码之关键。

The term ＂Ritsuryo System（りつりょぅせぃ ） ＂is created by Japanese scholars, which became popular after 1990s in China. Howsoever, the ＂Ritsuryo System＂ is not efficient in concluding the legal history of China, nor can it cover the whole legal system in ancient China, thus, there will be a limitation to transfer this term from Japan to China. The ancient China applied etiquette laws including a sub - system of ceremonies, decrees, and customary laws, and experienced four stages as prototype stage, re - establishing stage, mature stage and declining stage. Reacquainting etiquette laws is the key to obtaining better understanding of the ancient Chinese legal history per se, and the hereditary code of the ancient Chinese legal history.