“诚信”——中国传统公法文化中的观念

Good Faith: the notion of the traditional public Law culture in China

"诚信",作为中国古代的一项道德原则,产生于远古的祭祀活动,发展于春秋的会盟活动。它以等级政治道德要求为核心,包括人神之信、君臣之信和君民之信,而这些内容为等级结构和法律所制约。从性质上说,"诚信"是中国传统公法文化中的重要观念;而作为普遍道德意义上的诚信和基于商品契约的诚信,并没有成为中国古代社会独立的社会道德和法律原则。

Principle of Good Faith, a moral principle in ancient China, evolved from the sacrificial rites in remote antiquity and developed in the assembly activities in Spring-and-Autumn Period. This principle centers on the moral demands in hierarchical politics, Good Faith is an important notion in the traditional public law culture in China; however, the Good Faith, both in terms of universal morality and based on the goods contracts, did not serve as an independent social morality and law principle in the ancient society in China.