作者：彭巍
作者介绍：浙江大学光华法学院、中国传统文化与法治现代化研究中心特聘副研究员，法学博士
出版日期：2026年8月9日
内容提要 法律史学的解释体系是以法律历史事实为对象的理论解释活动的方法论体系。法律史研究中的理论追求催生了法律史学中的解释活动，而解释活动在对象和方法上的差异构成了法律史学解释体系的三个层面，分别是对法律历史范畴、原因和规律的解释。法律历史范畴是研究者使用现代话语建构的、用于表述法律历史事实的范畴，对其进行解释有助于形成源于中国传统的法学基本范畴。法律历史原因是导致历史上法律事实的形成、变化或维持的因素，对其进行解释有助于推动中国自有的法理观念和法治传统在现代社会的更新发展。法律历史规律是支配法律历史发展过程的决定性因素，在法律发展的历史进程中不断呈现并得到检验，对其进行解释有助于形成传统与现实的贯通理解，为当代中国的法治建设增强历史自信和道路自信。在建构中国法学自主知识体系的时代浪潮之中，中国法律史学必须承担起传承与发展中华优秀传统法律文化的时代使命。为此，应当正确对待法律史学的基础理论属性，并充分发挥法律史学解释体系的理论建构功能。
关键词 法律史学 自主知识体系 历史范畴 历史原因 历史规律
Abstract: The interpretive system of legal historiography is a methodological framework for theoretical interpretation aimed at legal historical facts. The theoretical pursuits in legal history studies give rise to interpretive activities, which, through differences in their objects and methods, constitute three levels of the interpretive system in legal historiography: the interpretation of legal historical categories, causes and laws. Categories of legal history are constructs formulated by researchers in modern discourse to represent factual historical legal phenomena. The interpretation of legal history categories contributes to the formation of fundamental legal categories rooted in Chinese tradition. Causes of legal history refer to the factors that give rise to, alter, or sustain legal facts in history. The interpretation of legal history causes helps promote the renewal and development of China’s indigenous legal theories and governance traditions in modern society. Laws of legal history are the decisive factors governing the development of legal history, continuously emerging and being tested throughout the historical process. The interpretation of legal history laws helps to achieve a comprehensive understanding that bridges tradition and reality, thereby strengthening confidence in history and path of China’s contemporary rule of law construction. In the wave of constructing China’s independent knowledge system of legal science, Chinese legal historiography must undertake the historical mission of inheriting and developing the fine traditional Chinese legal culture. For this reason, it is essential to properly recognize the fundamental theoretical nature of legal historiography and utilize the theoretical construction function of the legal historiography interpretive system.