Discussion On The Summer Trial System Of Ming Dynasty

In ancient China, the judicial system that the emperor and judicial officials tour, check and count the prisoners in the prison is called prison-checking system. Prison-checking system started from Han Dynasty, was used in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty invariably. The joint trial system in Ming Dynasty is the developing and continuation of Prison-checking.The summer trial system was a particular trial system in Ming Dynasty. It is not only a reviewing system, but also a judicial remedy system. Summer trial was continue from Ming Dynasty to the middle of the Qing Dynasty and was valued in Ming Dynasty. The research of the summer trial's source, evolution and mechanism is conducive to realize the trial system in Ming Dynasty.The summer trial comes from the age of Cheng Zu-Ming and shapes up in the age of Xiao Zhong-Ming. The summer trial is held in the summer from the literal meaning. The concrete time is usually in the April of the traditional Chinese calendar. The summer trial was held in two capitals..However, summer trial was not worked in thirteen provinces, it has been held in local government occasionally and not correctly. The summer trial was not a settled system in the local government. However summer trial was not unaffecting to the local government, it has instructional effects to the local government. There are cases to prove this point.The officers who manage summer trial are "Three Judicial Departments" and Jin Yiwei. The officers who join summer trial are not only in the two systems. There are many officers from other organizations join in summer trial. Emperor and his representative-eunuchs all join in summer trial.The big trial system is the progress and expansion. Scholars stressed the difference of big trial and summer trial overmuch and introduced the relation of them less in the past time. In fact, the people often link big trial to summer trial.The summer trial system reduces the pain of the people, retains social stability. This is to be said in support. Of course, summer trial system is not perfect。It has some faults. We should summarize them, too.To collate and stipulate the summer trial system, to explain and research its specific questions is positive for the judicial reform today. For reducing wrong cases step by step, our judicial circles are studying the procedure of correcting wrong case and the compulsory system of prosecution. Its spirit is just identical with summer trial system. So the summer trial system in Ming Dynasty has definite reference to the justice reform today.