先秦買賣契約文書“質(zhì)劑”法律效力的時空屬性考

摘 要：作為我國最早的買賣契約，“質(zhì)劑”的法律效力于《周禮》有簡要記載，但這些記載是否真實、其時空屬性設(shè)定是否可行，至今未被有效考證。文章基于先秦典籍和考古實物等多重證據(jù)，從歷史語言學(xué)角度厘清“旬”“期”等時間類名詞和“國中”“郊”“野”“都”“邦國”等空間類概念，用歷史地理學(xué)研究法將《周禮》所載“質(zhì)劑”法律時效與西周行政區(qū)劃進行對比驗證，發(fā)現(xiàn)其匹配程度高、現(xiàn)實可行性強，指出《周禮》對“質(zhì)劑”法律效力的記載是可信的。據(jù)此闡明訟主逾期不至的原因、商品所有權(quán)變更不適用“質(zhì)劑”的法律時效及其時空屬性設(shè)定對司法體系現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)的啟示，旨在豐富歷史文書學(xué)理論內(nèi)容和促進檔案管理實踐改革。

關(guān)鍵詞：買賣契約文書；質(zhì)劑；法律效力；《周禮》；文書檔案史

分類號：G279.29

Textual Research on Spatial and Temporal Attribute of Legal Validity of"Zhi Ji"， a Type of Sales Contract Document in the Pre-Qin Period

Kang Shengli

（ School of Management， Guangxi Minzu University， Nanning， Guangxi 530006 ）

Abstract： As the earliest sales contract document in China， the legal validity of Zhi Ji is briefly recorded in Zhou Li， but whether these records are true and whether their time and space attribute settings are feasible have not been effectively verified so far. Based on multiple evidences such as pre-Qin classics and archaeological objects， from the perspective of historical linguistics， this study accurately distinguishes and defines time nouns such as "Xun" and "Ji" and space concepts such as"Guo Zhong" （national center）， "Jiao" （suburbs）， "Ye" （wilds）， "Du" （capital） and "Bang Guo" （vassal state）， using historical geography research methods to compare and verify the legal statute of limitations of Zhi Ji recorded in Zhou Li and the spatial settings such as the administrative divisions of the Western Zhou Dynasty， the study found that it has a high degree of matching and is consistent with the historical facts of the Western Zhou Dynasty’s social economy and transportation， and has reasonable practical feasibility. It is pointed out that the record of the legal effect of Zhi Ji in Zhou Li is credible. In addition， this paper explains and discusses the two reasons why the litigants fail to arrive after the deadline， the change of ownership of goods does not apply to the legal limitation of Zhi Ji， and the enlightenment of the setting of the legal effect of Zhi Ji in the time and space attribute to the development of the current judicial system， this study aims to enrich the theoretical content of historical documents and promote the reform of archival management practice.

Keywords： Sales Contract Documents； Zhi Ji； Legal Validity； Zhou Li； History of Documents and Archives

1 引 言

“質(zhì)劑”，始見于《周禮》，是目前有文獻可征、有史料可考的最早的買賣契約，是在交易過程中以買方和賣方合意為前提并由官府制作形成的原始檔案記錄，是民事法律關(guān)系中主要的所有權(quán)憑證和民事訴訟過程中關(guān)鍵的檔案證據(jù)。先秦時期，“質(zhì)劑”是人們?nèi)粘Ｉ詈凸俑姓芾碇薪佑|和使用較為頻繁的一種憑證類法律文書檔案。此后，其漸次演變出“下手書”“畫指券”“分支合同”“多聯(lián)票據(jù)”乃至現(xiàn)今所常見和慣用的“買賣合同”等多種形式的文書契券。“質(zhì)劑”所開創(chuàng)的“兩書一札，同而別之，合券為證”的核心形制設(shè)計已沿用三千余年，迄今仍被證明是科學(xué)有效且成本較低的立契方式，持續(xù)發(fā)揮著“結(jié)信止訟”的廣泛作用。……