摘要： 诞生于1215年的英国《大宪章》，八百多年来饱受赞誉和争议。贬之者谓其“不过是人们心中一部古老的封建法律”，褒之者则誉其为西方宪政、民主、法治和人权的滥觞。从1215年的危机与《大宪章》的签订，以及催生《大宪章》的政治、宗教、财税与司法等因素之角度分析，可知《大宪章》的诞生是中世纪英国各种偶然事件与必然社会发展之多种复杂因素交互作用的产物。对比同时期的中国、俄罗斯、法国，《大宪章》具有独特的民族特色、时代特征和社会基础，具有不可复制性。《大宪章》的“神话”，部分在于其63条文本的解释潜力，部分在于中世纪英国的特殊国情，其本质是国家治理中各种权力的制约与平衡。这是《大宪章》至近代资产阶级革命时期大受欢迎的原因，也是其永恒的价值所在。

关键词: 《大宪章》, 中世纪英国, 国王, 教会, 权力平衡

Abstract: Magna Carta, since its birth in 1215, has induced extraordinary enchantment as well as controversies.While laudators extol Magna Carta as the genesis of western constitution, democracy, rule of law and human rights, critics consider it a mere old feudal law.Analyzing the crisis of 1215 and the political, religious, financial and judicial factors which result in the signing of Magna Carta, this article demonstrates that Magna Carta is the outcome of interactions between various accidents and inevitable social developments in medieval England.Contrasting medieval England with medieval China, Russia and France, the article displays the unique national character, good timing, social roots and irreproducibility of Magna Carta.The myth of Magna Carta lies in the potential of its 63 clauses as well as in the unique national character of medieval England.The essence of Magna Carta embodies the checks and balances in state-governing, which is the reason that Magna Carta receives tremendous ovation in bourgeois revolution and the eternal value of Magna Carta.

Key words: Magna Carta, Medieval England, Kings, Church, Checks and Balances