diff --git a/tests/rules/test_braces.py b/tests/rules/test_braces.py
index 308715b..69c5461 100644
--- a/tests/rules/test_braces.py
+++ b/tests/rules/test_braces.py
@@ -31,6 +31,36 @@ class ColonTestCase(RuleTestCase):
                    'dict6: {  a: 1, b, c: 3 }\n'
                    'dict7: {   a: 1, b, c: 3 }\n', conf)
 
+    def test_forbid(self):
+        conf = ('braces:\n'
+                '  forbid: false\n')
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {}\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {a}\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {a: 1}\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {\n'
+                   '  a: 1\n'
+                   '}\n', conf)
+
+        conf = ('braces:\n'
+                '  forbid: true\n')
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict:\n'
+                   '  a: 1\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {}\n', conf, problem=(2, 8))
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {a}\n', conf, problem=(2, 8))
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {a: 1}\n', conf, problem=(2, 8))
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'dict: {\n'
+                   '  a: 1\n'
+                   '}\n', conf, problem=(2, 8))
+
     def test_min_spaces(self):
         conf = ('braces:\n'
                 '  max-spaces-inside: -1\n'
diff --git a/tests/rules/test_brackets.py b/tests/rules/test_brackets.py
index 273f1a7..a35eff9 100644
--- a/tests/rules/test_brackets.py
+++ b/tests/rules/test_brackets.py
@@ -31,6 +31,35 @@ class ColonTestCase(RuleTestCase):
                    'array6: [  a, b, c ]\n'
                    'array7: [   a, b, c ]\n', conf)
 
+    def test_forbid(self):
+        conf = ('brackets:\n'
+                '  forbid: false\n')
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: []\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: [a, b]\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: [\n'
+                   '  a,\n'
+                   '  b\n'
+                   ']\n', conf)
+
+        conf = ('brackets:\n'
+                '  forbid: true\n')
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array:\n'
+                   '  - a\n'
+                   '  - b\n', conf)
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: []\n', conf, problem=(2, 9))
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: [a, b]\n', conf, problem=(2, 9))
+        self.check('---\n'
+                   'array: [\n'
+                   '  a,\n'
+                   '  b\n'
+                   ']\n', conf, problem=(2, 9))
+
     def test_min_spaces(self):
         conf = ('brackets:\n'
                 '  max-spaces-inside: -1\n'
diff --git a/yamllint/rules/braces.py b/yamllint/rules/braces.py
index 0d28aee..759306e 100644
--- a/yamllint/rules/braces.py
+++ b/yamllint/rules/braces.py
@@ -15,10 +15,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 """
-Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside braces (``{`` and ``}``).
+Use this rule to control the use of flow mappings or number of spaces inside
+braces (``{`` and ``}``).
 
 .. rubric:: Options
 
+* ``forbid`` is used to forbid the use of flow mappings which are denoted by
+  surrounding braces (``{`` and ``}``). Use ``true`` to forbid the use of flow
+  mappings completely.
 * ``min-spaces-inside`` defines the minimal number of spaces required inside
   braces.
 * ``max-spaces-inside`` defines the maximal number of spaces allowed inside
@@ -34,6 +38,7 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside braces (``{`` and ``}``).
 
  rules:
    braces:
+     forbid: false
      min-spaces-inside: 0
      max-spaces-inside: 0
      min-spaces-inside-empty: -1
@@ -41,6 +46,20 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside braces (``{`` and ``}``).
 
 .. rubric:: Examples
 
+#. With ``braces: {forbid: true}``
+
+   the following code snippet would **PASS**:
+   ::
+
+    object:
+      key1: 4
+      key2: 8
+
+   the following code snippet would **FAIL**:
+   ::
+
+    object: { key1: 4, key2: 8 }
+
 #. With ``braces: {min-spaces-inside: 0, max-spaces-inside: 0}``
 
    the following code snippet would **PASS**:
@@ -103,23 +122,31 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside braces (``{`` and ``}``).
 
 import yaml
 
+from yamllint.linter import LintProblem
 from yamllint.rules.common import spaces_after, spaces_before
 
 
 ID = 'braces'
 TYPE = 'token'
-CONF = {'min-spaces-inside': int,
+CONF = {'forbid': bool,
+        'min-spaces-inside': int,
         'max-spaces-inside': int,
         'min-spaces-inside-empty': int,
         'max-spaces-inside-empty': int}
-DEFAULT = {'min-spaces-inside': 0,
+DEFAULT = {'forbid': False,
+           'min-spaces-inside': 0,
            'max-spaces-inside': 0,
            'min-spaces-inside-empty': -1,
            'max-spaces-inside-empty': -1}
 
 
 def check(conf, token, prev, next, nextnext, context):
-    if (isinstance(token, yaml.FlowMappingStartToken) and
+    if conf['forbid'] and isinstance(token, yaml.FlowMappingStartToken):
+        yield LintProblem(token.start_mark.line + 1,
+                          token.end_mark.column + 1,
+                          'forbidden flow mapping')
+
+    elif (isinstance(token, yaml.FlowMappingStartToken) and
             isinstance(next, yaml.FlowMappingEndToken)):
         problem = spaces_after(token, prev, next,
                                min=(conf['min-spaces-inside-empty']
diff --git a/yamllint/rules/brackets.py b/yamllint/rules/brackets.py
index 587c4f0..6ab02df 100644
--- a/yamllint/rules/brackets.py
+++ b/yamllint/rules/brackets.py
@@ -15,11 +15,14 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 """
-Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside brackets (``[`` and
-``]``).
+Use this rule to control the use of flow sequences or the number of spaces
+inside brackets (``[`` and ``]``).
 
 .. rubric:: Options
 
+* ``forbid`` is used to forbid the use of flow sequences which are denoted by
+  surrounding brackets (``[`` and ``]``). Use ``true`` to forbid the use of
+  flow sequences completely.
 * ``min-spaces-inside`` defines the minimal number of spaces required inside
   brackets.
 * ``max-spaces-inside`` defines the maximal number of spaces allowed inside
@@ -35,6 +38,7 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside brackets (``[`` and
 
  rules:
    brackets:
+     forbid: false
      min-spaces-inside: 0
      max-spaces-inside: 0
      min-spaces-inside-empty: -1
@@ -42,6 +46,21 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside brackets (``[`` and
 
 .. rubric:: Examples
 
+#. With ``brackets: {forbid: true}``
+
+   the following code snippet would **PASS**:
+   ::
+
+    object:
+      - 1
+      - 2
+      - abc
+
+   the following code snippet would **FAIL**:
+   ::
+
+    object: [ 1, 2, abc ]
+
 #. With ``brackets: {min-spaces-inside: 0, max-spaces-inside: 0}``
 
    the following code snippet would **PASS**:
@@ -104,23 +123,31 @@ Use this rule to control the number of spaces inside brackets (``[`` and
 
 import yaml
 
+from yamllint.linter import LintProblem
 from yamllint.rules.common import spaces_after, spaces_before
 
 
 ID = 'brackets'
 TYPE = 'token'
-CONF = {'min-spaces-inside': int,
+CONF = {'forbid': bool,
+        'min-spaces-inside': int,
         'max-spaces-inside': int,
         'min-spaces-inside-empty': int,
         'max-spaces-inside-empty': int}
-DEFAULT = {'min-spaces-inside': 0,
+DEFAULT = {'forbid': False,
+           'min-spaces-inside': 0,
            'max-spaces-inside': 0,
            'min-spaces-inside-empty': -1,
            'max-spaces-inside-empty': -1}
 
 
 def check(conf, token, prev, next, nextnext, context):
-    if (isinstance(token, yaml.FlowSequenceStartToken) and
+    if conf['forbid'] and isinstance(token, yaml.FlowSequenceStartToken):
+        yield LintProblem(token.start_mark.line + 1,
+                          token.end_mark.column + 1,
+                          'forbidden flow sequence')
+
+    elif (isinstance(token, yaml.FlowSequenceStartToken) and
             isinstance(next, yaml.FlowSequenceEndToken)):
         problem = spaces_after(token, prev, next,
                                min=(conf['min-spaces-inside-empty']