论古代索债致人自尽的法律规制及其检视

Analysis and review of ancient legal regulation on the debt causing suicide

索债作为一种传统私力救济方式,在行使权利过程中难免造成债务人一方权利受到侵害。这在古代表现得更为极端,即索债往往会引起一方自尽的后果,而对此种情形的规制主要规定在威逼条中,就其设立的初衷而言,一方面可发挥刑法扶弱抑强,保全良善,维护传统伦理秩序的功用;另一方面也可体现统治者珍惜民命的朴素情感。但司法活动中由于受结果归责以及因果关系追及认定的影响,也易导致处罚宽泛的不良后果。

The claim of debt,a kind of traditional dispute resolution method of nongovernment,can lead to a inevitable consequence that the debtor＇s interests are infringed.Furthermore,the claim of debt even caused the other party to commit suicide in the ancient times.As a result,the ancient China enacted law and set up the intimidation clause,to regulate the severe claim of debt.On the one hand,this clause exerted positive influence on preventing the powerful from infringing the weak,and maintaining the traditional ethics order.On the other hand,it also reflected the simple feeling of rulers on valuing people＇s life.However,the judge applied this clause broadly on objective imputation and traced back determination of causation,which resulted in adverse effect.