日本历史上的养子制及其文化特征

The Adoption System in the Japanese History and Its Cultural Traits

日本历史上的养子制 ,从平安时代后期律令制的解体到 1 2世纪镰仓幕府武士政权创立后 ,可以分为两个阶段。前期以平安贵族收养血缘亲族为主且以不论辈分为其特征 ;后期则以非血缘的异姓养子为主 ,武士阶层以“养子愿书”、庶民家以“养子证文”来确立养父子关系为其特征。养子制不仅深刻地反映了当时社会血缘亲族集团内部结构的变化乃至社会集团性质的质变 ,而且也深刻地反映了一个民族的价值观、伦理观等文化特征。最终日本在前近代就形成了人为的身份制以及与此相应的功利主义和关于“人”本身的契约文化。

We may divide the Japanese adoption system from the disintegration of the system of the Yōrō Code (i.e., concerning provision for the aged) during the late Heian period to the establishment of the Kamakura Shognate in the twelfth century into two stages. In the first stage feudal nobles adopted people related by blood without reference to the order of seniority in the clan. The second stage was characterized by the adoption of people from other clans without blood relationship; testimonials for the bushi (warrior) class were more formal than for commoners. These changes in the adoption system not only reflect changes in the internal structure of consanguine groups, even in the nature of social groups in that period, but profound changes in Japanese values and ethics as well. Finally, this gave rise, even before modern times, to an artificial personal identity, utilitarianism and contractual culture of persons.