本文认为,法治(rule of law)在西方文化中有深厚土壤,但是在中国文化中则不然;中国文化需要法治,但迄今为止最有效的制度基础仍然是礼治。下面先论礼之义。一礼的特征与本质“礼”源于祭祀1,进一步演变成一系列重要场合的礼仪活动,即所谓典礼(亦称礼典),与今本《仪礼》内容相应。典礼应当是“礼”最初 This article argues that the rule of law has deep soil in Western culture, but not in Chinese culture. Chinese culture needs the rule of law, but the most effective institutional basis so far is still the rule of law. Let’s talk about righteousness first. The characteristics and nature of a gift “gift ” from the sacrificial 1, further evolved into a series of ceremonial activities of important occasions, the so-called ceremony (also known as ceremony), and today’s “ritual” content corresponding. Ceremony should be “ceremony ” initially