禮法作為一種長程歷史的制度

Etiquette and Law as Institutions of Long-standing History

本文將禮（習慣法）和法（制定法）共同構成的禮法體系看作是一個社會的全部秩序規則，它是一種長程歷史的基礎性制度，孕育和生長於遠古，在軸心時代受到文化精英的搜集、彙編和提煉形成文明經典。以文明經典為基礎的成文法與習慣法一起構成禮法秩序。這一過程要經歷上千年，不因朝代、民族、政體或經濟制度的更替而更替或中斷，是一社會中最可寶貴的制度財富。中華禮法體系與軸心時代其他文明的禮法體系一樣，是如此生成、發展、演化和磨礪成熟的。它以《唐律》為成文法的典型代表，是唐宋等成功朝代的深層制度。近代以來在西方的衝擊下，這一禮法制度發生了動搖，更在1949年以後被基本廢棄，導致了巨大災難。在大陸中國改革開放以後需要一套適應市場經濟的禮法制度的背景下，在缺少中華禮法資源的情況下，借用歐陸羅馬法資源以制定新法，雖在一定程度上起到了支撐市場經濟的作用，卻仍因大陸法系的某些缺陷而不盡如人意。改進的方法就是復興中華禮法傳統。

This article views the system of etiquette (li禮, customary law) and law (fa法, statutory law) as the complete set of rules that order a society. It is a foundational institution that has developed over a long historical period, originating in ancient times and being compiled and refined by cultural elites during the Axial Age, ultimately forming a set of classics. Written law founded in these classics, together with customary law, comes to constitute the legal order. This process spanned thousands of years and was not interrupted or replaced by changes in dynasty, ethnicity, political system, or economic structure; it represents the most valuable institutional wealth of a society. The Chinese system of etiquette and law, like those of other civilizations during the Axial Age, has been generated, developed, evolved, and honed to maturity. The Tang Code (Tanglü唐律) serves as a typical representative of statutory law, being a deeply rooted institution in successful dynasties such as the Tang and Song. In modern times, under the impact of the West, this etiquette and law system faced challenges; after 1949, it was largely abandoned, leading to significant disasters. Given the need for a system of etiquette and law adapted to a market economy following China’s reform and opening-up, and in the absence of resources from the Chinese etiquette and law tradition, new laws were formulated by borrowing from Continental Roman law. While this new system has to some degree supported the market economy, certain deficiencies in the Continental legal system have rendered it less than satisfactory. The solution lies in the revival of the Chinese tradition of etiquette and law.