The Change, Nature And Status Of Ling In Ancient China

Through Chinese legal system has another name that the legal system of lv and ling , ling has a very important role in Chinese legal history. Ling had been used before Qin dynasty, when were special orders of sovereign . When Qinshihuang drew up new rules and regulations, ling began be independent and had generality. Although they were compiled and more tidy in Han dynasty, ling could never completely independent from lv in Qin and Han dynasty. Until the legislators in Wei and Jin Dynasty legislated new law, ling separated from lv. From Sui dynasty to Tang dynasty ling continually developed, especially in Tang dynasty, the characteristic was direct that Tangling was fundamental law and equal to lv. Then Tangling became model for the later. At the beginning of Song dynasty, there were used Tangling as before. Tianshengling was the first ling code of Song, but been applied for a short term. Ming dynasty did not obviously succeed Tangling, abnormally succeeded most Tongzhitiaoge of Yuan dynasty, meanwhile, Mingling was a small amount compared with Tangling. Ling was no longer a legal form in Qing dynasty. But some articles of Mingling were recorded into Daqinglvli.