敦煌文书中“乡法”呈现的社会治理

Social Governance Reflected in the “Folk Laws” of Dunhuang Documents

"乡法"经过长期的不断演变过程而自发形成,既包括家族的、民族的、宗教的地方习惯和传统,又包括关于敦煌文书中的"社"的地方习惯和传统。相关文书使用的语言反映出的人们的精神状态及文化理念与宗教意识,可以帮助我们探寻其后隐含的契约文化与相关社会心态,从文化的遗物遗迹去破译一个族群的文化模式或文化构型,体味相关契约文书、民间争讼文书中所闪烁的超越时空的文化精神和民族法律智慧。

Formed naturally through prolonged and constant evolution, the “folk laws” include local customs and traditions of the families, ethnic groups and religions, as well as that of the“She”(folk organization) recorded in the Dunhuang documents. The language of relevant documents mirrors the-then people’s mentality,culture and religions, which can help explore the implied contract culture and related social mentality, and decipher the cultural pattern or configuration of an ethnic group by virtue of cultural relics. Moreover, we can comprehend the cultural spirit and national legal wisdom implied in these folk documents of contracts and litigation beyond time and space.