A Study Of The Amnesty Of The Ming Dynasty

Amnesty refers to a kind of system that the imperial government pardonsnationwide criminals in addition to the specific crimes. Ming Dynasty relativelycomplete amnesty legislation,there are many amnesty laws in The Great Law of theMing Dynasty and each dynasty laws.The characteristics of Ming amnesty laws arebased on Confucianism, reverse legislation,limit crimes does not limit punishment,customary law and statute law parallel. From a lot of historical data, the Mingamnesty had at least52times. Its reasons have ascended the throne or restoration of adethroned monarch, book sign a prince, emperor’s eldest son or grandson was born,calamity and so on. From the contents of the amnesty, most have ended things can beforgiven; Imprisonment and exile can indirectly obtain forgiveness; The majority ofthe fugitive can be remitted before Ming Shizong Dynasty. According to the Mingamnesty, remitting a punishment according to the motivation,suspected crime can beforgiven, Ming Shen punishment and making a fresh start together with the wholenation are the legal principles of the Ming amnesty. Compare with the Han Tang Songamnesty, Ming amnesty had a few times, low frequency, reasons for limited and asimple ceremony.