中国奁产制度的历史演进及其当代价值

Historical Evolution of Chinese Traditional Dowry and Its Contemporary Value

奁产(嫁妆)制度是中国古代婚姻财产制度的一项重要组成部分,设立嫁妆原初之目的更多地是对不享有分家析产之权的女性以一定的财产补偿、保障女子在夫家的家庭地位以及避免女子因婚姻关系的解除而生计艰难。现代嫁妆婚俗又具备了原生家庭对婚姻关系持续期间的新生家庭的经济支持功能。在历史的演进过程中嫁妆制度逐步衍入于新的婚姻财产制度当中,按照我国的历史传统以及实践的需求,嫁妆制度存在规范的必要性。在《民法典》中应当吸收现有《〈婚姻法〉司法解释》中关于婚约财产的规定,并按照赠与嫁妆的时间、赠与物的具体类别进行细化规定。

The Chinese traditional dowry is an important part of the ancient Chinese marriage and property regime.The original purpose of setting up the dowry was to compensate women who did not have the right to separate the property,and to protect the women’s family status and avoiding women's difficult livelihoods due to dissolution of marriage.Modern dowry marriage custom also has the function of financial support from the original family to the new family during the existent of the marriage relationship.In the course of historical evolution,the dowry regime gradually evolved into the modern marriage property regime.According to China's historical tradition and practical needs,the dowry regime has the necessity to be normalized.The recent"Civil Code"should incorporate the provisions of the existing"Judicial Interpretation of the‘Marriage Law’"on engagement property,and make detailed provisions according to the time of donation of the dowry and the specific types of bestowal.