中国古代无奴隶社会说的缘起、形成及演变

Theory of No Slave Society in Ancient China: Origin,Formation and Evolution

中国古代无奴隶社会说是由马克思主义经典著作中"亚细亚生产方式"的表述引发出来的一个论题。无奴说发端于20世纪20—30年代的社会史论战,随着抗战的爆发,争论逐渐沉寂下来。抗战时期的大后方虽有一些学者试图推进,但多袭用西方旧的史学观点,创新不多。新中国建立之初至改革开放,单线渐进的五种社会形态理论主导着中国学术界,无奴说已鲜有提及。改革开放后,有学者抛开传统的五种社会形态理论对中国古史体系进行新的理论重构,在这过程中呈现出概念不清、角度不一及逻辑混乱等突出问题,则不断促使学术界对无奴说进行更为冷静理性的思考、质疑与批判。凡此表明,无奴说从未形成定论。

The theory of no slave society in ancient China started in the argument on Chinese Social History in 1920s, which gradually subsided with the War of Resistance against Japan. Although some scholars tried to advance this theory during that period, they adopted old Western historical views and rarely made any innovation. From the founding of New China State to the Reform and Opening-up, the theory of ＂five types of social formation＂ dominating the mainstream of Chinese academia, no slave theory became silent. Then after the Reform and Opening-up, some scholars were in reconstruction of the new systems for Chinese ancient history. In this stage, some problems exposed such as confusion in concept and logic, which surely caused academics to make calm and rational thinking, questioning and criticizing. Thus, no final conclusion has been reached on the theory of no slave society in ancient China.