“礼法合治”:中国古典法治的常规形态

“Ritual and Law”:The Conventional Form of Chinese Classical Rule of Law

从“礼治”到“法治”再到“礼法合治”,是传统法律思想演变的基本线索与中华法系的思想基础。历经西周“礼治”的崩落、法家“法治”的兴起与隐退、汉儒“礼治”的复归与“德治”的重光,“礼法合治”成为古典法治的常规形态。“法”不等于全部法律,“礼”不等于道德品质,“德”不等于“道德治国”。中华法系的“礼、律、典”结构与“天理、国法、人情”的司法模式,是“礼法合治”的典型表现。探明中国法律与制度的源流、内容和演变,洞悉中华法系的理论与精神,对于从我国的国情出发,建设具有中国特色的社会主义法治国家有着积极的意义。

From the“rule by virtue”to the“rule of law”and then the“rule by virtue and law”is the basic transitional thread in the evolution of Chinese traditional legal ideas.After the collapse of the Western Zhou dynasty and its“rule by rites”,came the rise and fall of the legalist ideology of“rule of law”,then there was a return to Han Confucianism’s“rule by rites”and the re-emergence of“rule by virtue”.“Rule by virtue and law”has become the standard form of Chinese rule of law.“Law”does not mean the whole body of legislation,“ethics”cannot be solely defined as moral character,and“virtue”is not the same as“moral governance”.“Virtues,statutes and codes”of the Chinese legal system and judicial model of“moral principles,state laws and humanity”are the standard combination of“rule by virtue and law”.Exploring the origin,content and evolution of Chinese law and rules and understanding the theory and spirit of Chinese law system have a significant meaning to build a socialist country ruled of law with Chinese characteristics.