早期中国法的理性化之路

The Path to Rationalization of Early Chinese Law

早期中国神权法演变过程中,存在三个明显的现象:巫与宗族的结合、天命作刑的实践、天赐法典观念的流传。这三个现象先后登场,时有反复,在各有扬弃的基础上开辟了法律世俗化与理性化的进程。早期中国法的理性化论证与道法理论相关,其核心概念是“刑名”。该理论认为,在立法阶段,道可以通过“刑名”的中介衍生出法律。经过法家学者的改造,立法阶段的“刑名”转化为督察臣子言行的“刑名”。随着法家理论在秦国的贯彻扩张,“道”对法的实质影响急剧减少,君主成为立法权的最高享有者与最终依据。汉以后道家黄老思想的复苏、引礼入法及法律儒家化等趋势的出现,正建立在对早期中国法律理性化深层反思的基础之上。

During the evolution of the theocratic law in early China,three distinct phenomena emerged:the combination of shamanism and clans,the practice of using the Mandate of Heaven as punishment,and the dissemination of the concept of divinely granted legal codes.These phenomena appeared sequentially and intermittently,each contributing to the process of secularization and rationalization of law.The rationalization of early Chinese law is closely related to the Daoist legal theory,with its core concept being xingming刑名(name of the punishment).This theory posits that during the legislative phase,Dao can generate law through the intermediary of xingming.After being transformed by legalist scholars,xingming in the legislative phase became a tool for monitoring the words and actions of officials.As legalist theory expanded in the state of Qin,the substantive influence of Dao on law diminished rapidly,making the monarch the highest authority and ultimate basis for legislation.Following the Han dynasty,the revival of Daoist Huang-Lao thought,the incorporation of ritual into law,and the Confucianization of law were all trends based on a profound reflection on the rationalization of early Chinese law.