《公羊董仲舒治狱》发微——兼论“春秋决狱”与“决事比”异同

Research on Dong Zhongshu’s Trial——Also on the Comparison Between the Spring and Autumn Prison and the Decision

今本董仲舒《春秋决狱》最早被记载于《汉书·艺文志》中,被称为《公羊董仲舒治狱》,其书名与版本存在一个衍变的过程。自宋代王尧臣《崇文总目》中将其称作《春秋决事比》以来,“春秋决狱”与“决事比”遂逐渐被混淆,但二者绝非全然无别。儒生所倡导的“春秋决狱”并非是一种正式的法律,其准则为“原心定罪”,其目的是创建一种凌驾于制定法之上的儒家规则,以之更深地参与进讼狱乃至国家治理之中;而“决事比”则为一种正式法律形式,是经过皇帝批准之后的判例汇编,是对于汉律的补充。汉人虽然重视以伦理为基础的“春秋决狱”,但是并没有将其完全等同于国家法,认为只有皇帝正式颁布的诏令才有普遍法律效力。汉人这种处理法律与伦理的权衡态度,也为今天法治中国建设提供了宝贵的文化资源。

Dong Zhongshu's"Spring and Autumn Prison"was first recorded in the Book of Han Chronicles of Art and Literature.It is called"Dong Zhongshu's Ruling the Ram in Prison".The title and edition of the book have a process of evolution.In Chongwen Zongmu written by WangYaochen of Song Dynasty called it"Spring and Autumn Jueshibi","Spring and Autumn Jueshibi"and"Jueshibi"gradually confused.However,they are by no means completely different.The"Spring and Autumn Trial"advocated by Confucian scholars is not a formal law.Its principle is"original conviction"."Jueshibi"was a formal legal form,a compilation of precedents approved by the emperor,and a supplement to the Law of Han.Although the Han people attach importance to the"Spring and Autumn Trial"based on ethics,they do not equate it with the national law,but have universal legal effect only through the official imperial edict.Han people's attitude of balancing law and ethicd also provided valuable cultural resources for the construction of th e rule of law in China today.