中国古代刑讯制度及其评析

刑讯作为野蛮的“刑”与文明的“讯”结合而成的取证方法，在中国古代延续了两千余年，这一方面反映了其不足之处，另一方面却又足以说明了其价值所在。因此，不顾其存在的客观历史奈件而简单地对其功过一概否定或者肯定的观点都是值得商榷的。本文从中国古代刑讯制度的沿革入手，就古代中国刑讯制度化、法律化的形成、原因、特点等诸多相关问题予以了阐述，目的在于客观地评价中国古代的刑讯制度，从而扬“讯”之长，避“刑”之短，以完善今天的证据制度。

The Ancient Chinese System of Interrogation by Torture and Comments

Interrogation by torture, as a means for taking evidence that combines ＂savage torture＂ and ＂civilized interrogation＂, was in existence for more than two thousand years in China. This reflects its deficiency on the one hand, while its value on the other. The views that simply deny or affirm all its merits or demerits are questionable. This paper starts with an introduction to the evolution of ancient Chinese system of interrogation by torture, expounds, among others, the course, cause and characteristics of institutionalized and legal torture, and comes to an objective assessment of the ancient system. At the end, this paper proposes putting full play to ancient Chinese system of interrogation and avoiding torture for perfecting the current evidence system.