从民法通则到民法总则:中国当代民法的历史性跨越

From the General Principles of Civil Law to the General Rules of Civil Law:A Historic Leap in Contemporary Chinese Civil Law

《民法通则》是改革开放初期制定的一部具有民法总则性质的民法单行法,通过确立民法基本原则、民事主体和民事法律行为及代理制度,宣示民事主体享有的民事权利,建立较为完整的民事责任制度等立法举措,唤起了民众的民事权利意识,保障了中国经济社会的高速发展,奠定了中国民法典的基本框架和内容,在中国当代历史上具有重要价值。随着经济社会的发展,民法必须随时代的发展而变化,民法学为当代民法立法提供理论支撑,依法治国的法治蓝图为实现中国当代民法的历史跨越注入强大动力,因而民法典编纂具备了必要条件。《民法总则》的制定完成,适应时代经济、人文和法治特征的要求,彰显民法典的人文主义立场和精神,迎接当代科学技术发展的挑战,保障人对新型权利及其客体的享有和支配,标志着《民法通则》完成了历史任务,标志着中国当代民法实现了历史性跨越,奠定了我国民法典编纂的基础和分则各编的框架和内容。

The General Principles of Civil Law(民法通则),formulated in the early days of reform and opening up, was a single law that set out the basic principles or rules of civil law,defining the actor in civil affairs,civil law behaviors and the agency system; declaring the civil rights enjoyed by civil entities; establishing a relatively complete civil liability system; and so on. These legislative measures aroused awareness of civil rights among the mass of the population, ensured China's rapid economic and social development,and laid down the basic framework and content of the civil code, so they hold an important position in contemporary Chinese history.But as the economy and society have developed, civil law has had to change with the times. Civil law jurisprudence injects theoretical support into contemporary civil law legislation, and the rule of law blueprint for governing the country according to law provides a powerful impetus to the historic leap of contemporary Chinese civil law,providing the necessary conditions for the codification of civil law. The completion of the General Rules o f Civil Law(民法总则) meets the requirements of the economic,humanist and legal character of the times; demonstrates the humanist position and spirit of the civil code; rises to the challenge of modern scientific and technological development; and assures people's enjoyment and control of their new-style rights with their objective forms. This signifies that the General Principle of Civil Law has accomplished its historical task and civil law in contemporary China has realized its historic leap forward,laying a foundation for the drawing up of the Chinese civil code, including the specific provisions of the framework and contents of each chapter.