《明律》縱囚條文規範與社會現象──兼論「縱囚論」的議論與反思

The Discussion on the Illegal Releasing of Prisoners in The Great Ming Code and Ming Society

監獄的法律條文規範，主要著重在獄囚管理與安全規範，其中牽涉到獄囚日常生活的問題，同時嚴防任何意外與不法事件的發生。縱囚，是指監獄官吏人等，蓄意或疏失而導致縱放囚犯逃逸的行為，無論是知情縱囚，或受財故縱，在《明律》規範上都屬於瀆職與犯罪的行為。若涉及縱囚事件，除了實際管理監獄的典吏、獄卒人等，需依律懲處之外，司獄官以上的提牢主事、提牢御史等官員，都視情況而有連帶處分。而受財貪贓部分，則依贓罪予以懲處。明代涉及縱囚事件的相關官員，皆予以嚴重處罰，然而唐太宗以「縱囚」作為仁德施政的表率，從而型塑個人政治風格與形象，來作為政治宣傳的手段，藉以博取政治的美名。這種非法、違法且備受爭議的舉動，雖遭到歐陽修〈縱囚論〉以來的強烈批評，卻也受到後世的屢屢仿效。面對違法、非法的縱囚事件，何以成為一種仿效的典範？明代官員與士人除了在強烈批評之餘，也開始出現不同立場的反思與討論。本文主要是從《明律．刑律》中有關縱囚條文的觀察，理解明代律法對監獄管理的核心精神，進而考察明代地方社會與官方的實際運作情形。此外，更探討明代官員與文人，如何看待作為非法的「縱囚」事件，所產生的社會現象與批評，並嘗試從政治手段、法理、人情等觀察角度，探討明代士人對於「縱囚」的不同立場與解釋，以及此種現象對明代的司法制度、地方社會秩序所造成的各種可能影響。

It is illegal that release the prisoners without the permission of government under the legal system. However, the similar situations and events were happened in various period times in ancient China. Some officials even use to do this by their own authority, in order to make a name for themself and improve the social status. Then the few China emperors, especially Tang-taizong (唐太宗), also tried to gain the political purposes and keep up appearances with the way of illegal releasing the prisoners. It would be serious punished by the Great Ming Code if event of illegal release prisoners were happened. Although the cases of political release the prisoners were criticized, but scholars and officials raise the different standpoints in Ming. They discussed from the legal and emotional aspects to observe mainly and how to comprehend the different between the two discussions. The text tries to discuss how the situation of illegal releasing prisoners would be happened and became the exceptional paradigm? How the situation would damage legal system and local social order in Ming dynasty?