Textual Research on Spatial and Temporal Attribute of Legal Validity of"Zhi Ji",a Type of Sales Contract Document in the Pre-Qin Period
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space attribute to the development of the current judicial system,this study aims to enrich the theoretical content of historical documents and promote the reform of archival management practice.
Sales Contract DocumentsZhi JiLegal ValidityZhou LiHistory of Documents and Archives
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