传统与现代法律文化的张力——兼论中国古代民法欠发达的原因

The Tension between Traditional and Modern Legal Cultures——Also on the Causes of Underdevelopment of Civil Law in Ancient China

近代以降中国法律文化开启向西方学习的路径,从古代"民法"切入,凸显传统与现代法律文化之间的张力。传统社会中的家族本位、重农抑商与权力意识并不利于形塑现代自由、平等之观念,严重制约契约关系的发展,而重视诚信、集体利益与和谐社会可以为民法的发展提供本土资源。从中国古代民法之不发达,可以管窥传统法律文化对人性的压抑,导致中国人缺乏民法文化与意识。认识并调节传统与现代法律文化之张力,发扬现代民法之精神,不失为推进现代法律文化发展的重要面向。

Focusing on the civil law of ancient China, this paper highlights the tension between traditional and modern legal cultures. In traditional society, family standard, policy of proagricultural and anticommerce, and power consciousness were not conducive to shaping modern concept of freedom and equality, which seriously restricted the development of contractual relations. On the other hand, the traditional emphasis on honesty,collective interests, and social harmony could provide local resources for the development of civil law. The underdevelopment of ancient Chinese civil law shows the repression of human nature by traditional legal culture, which caused the lack of civil law culture and awareness among the Chinese. Understanding the tension between traditional and modern legal culture, and promoting the spirit of modern civil law are important aspects of the development of modern legal culture.