imperial examination system
The imperial examination system sprouted in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, was founded in the Sui Dynasty, and was abolished in the late Qing Dynasty. In its 1300-year history, it has produced more than 700 champions. The ancients paid more attention to literary talent, benevolence, mind and morality. In December of the second year of Tang Xianzong Yuanhe (807), he said: "From now on, Jinshi sent by the state government may not apply for admission if they are involved in carelessness, lack of integrity, or have been punished by a lawsuit, or have been a small official of the state government, although they are thin and artistic." It can be said that most of the top scholars were romantic aristocrats in the society at that time.
In the process of thousands of years' inheritance, many changes have taken place in the subjects of imperial examinations, but they can be roughly divided into general subjects, special subjects, martial arts exercises and boy exercises. Regular courses are held regularly, resulting in Ming Classics, Scholars and so on. Specialized courses were temporarily set up by the emperor, such as virtuous and upright, knowledgeable and outspoken, philosopher and other courses. In the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi's political reform led to the elimination of Ming Classics and other subjects. Therefore, in the more than 830 years after Song Huizong ruled for six years (116), only Jinshi was selected as a regular subject.
In addition, when different nationalities are in power, imperial examinations also have different characteristics. In the Liao Dynasty, the Khitans were not allowed to take this job. The Jin Dynasty set up Jurchen Jinshi branch, using Jurchen script. In the Yuan Dynasty, there were two lists of scholars in one subject, one for Mongolians and one for Semu people, which was called the "right list", and one for * * * people and southerners (especially ethnic groups such as * * before the Southern Song Dynasty), which was called the "left list".
Imperial Examination Site —— Gong Yuan House Model (Public Domain)
Among all scholars, Jinshi is the most respected and influenced. "The Book Selection System of the New Tang Dynasty" records that "generally speaking, Jinshi is especially expensive and its people are the most prosperous." In the Tang Dynasty, the new Jinshi even had the title of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Qujiang Liuyin and Xingyuan Banquet. Li Chen, a member of Xuanzong in Tang Dynasty, envied the Jinshi very much and deeply regretted that he could not take part in scientific research. He wrote many times on the pillars of the palace "Lee Hsien Loong, a township tribute scholar" and "Li Mou, a township tribute scholar", calling himself a scholar.
Tang Jianzhi: A late bloomer.
Many famous celebrities in the Tang Dynasty were scholars, such as Wang Bo, Zhang Jiuling, Zhang Jianzhi, Wang Wei, Yan Zhenqing, Bai Juyi, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan. Zhang Jian was the first scholar in the first year of Yongchang, Tang Ruizong (698), and his career as a scholar was quite dramatic.
Zhang Jian was born in the Zhang family in Xiangyang, which is a big family after that. Zhang Jian was familiar with poetry books since he was a child, then he went to imperial academy and dabbled in a wide range, and finally became a scholar. However, his career is not smooth. He was only a county magistrate until he was 65 years old in the first year of Yongchang. However, in the first year of Yongchang, it was the year before Wu Zetian changed to Tang Jianzhou, and the court was in urgent need of a large number of talents. At that time, there were only eight Jinshi in Zhengke, and the court ordered the establishment of two subjects, German Founder and Tangli, to recruit talents and more than a thousand candidates.
The scene when the imperial examination was lifted (public domain)
According to the practice of the Tang Dynasty, people who passed the examination of Jinshi can take various examinations, so Zhang Jian took the examination of virtue and founder. However, when the list was published, he was at the bottom of the class. Just when Zhang Jianzhi lamented that he was unlucky and lost confidence in his career, things turned around. They retaken the exam because there were too few people. This time, Zhang Jianzhi won the first prize in one fell swoop, and "Datang Xinyu" carried him, "from bottom to top, ranking first in the world".
This time, the founder of Xiande has a strategy of two questions. The first one is to ask the way of selecting talents and appointing people. Zhang Jianzhi wrote a long and eloquent article. Here are two excerpts:
"I heard the father of heaven, and the king was ordered by heaven, so he was appointed by heaven. Born to steam people, the king of trees is long, and Mu Zhi is a secretary. Since he is not smart and wise, he can't let people settle down. Your majesty is obedient to the heavenly Sect and kind to Yuanyuan. He enjoys life and career. When I heard the news of Rui, I went to heaven and commanded the Lord. Therefore, the unicorn swims in the cave, the wind emperor gathers in the court, the clouds are light and the wind is clear, and the dragon sees it. The rest of the herbs couldn't be more fragrant. Your majesty is cautious every day, although he does not rest, but God makes the stone stand, and God makes it known. Great! The great cause of saints is also. "
Zhang Jianzhi said that to be a monarch, we must first respect heaven. God appointed an emperor on earth, and naturally arranged for civil servants and military commanders to perform their duties and assist the monarch. As an emperor, we should be kind to the people and always standardize our own virtues, so that God will surely care for and educate the people.
On the specific issue of selecting officials, Zhang Jianzhi suggested that the emperor attach importance to the selection and appointment of local officials.
"I am the secretariat of today, and I am also a priest in ancient times. Today's county magistrate is also a hundred miles. The relationship between the government and the country is heavy. If it were not for its material, its harm would be heavy. Yesterday, Zhou Xuanwang wanted to discipline his people and asked Yu Fanzhong, "I want to discipline the people, but who can be a vassal? Zhong You:' When Lu Housu respects God and the elderly, he must ask the truth and the legacy'. Jin mingchen also said that washing horses at the expense of others is a temporary choice, and it cannot be entrusted with five words and two feet, not following shortcomings, not being a good official, and being a wise man of all peoples. If it comes from slaughtering and grazing, this kind of praise will prevail. From this point of view, it is not easy for people in Tu County of Gumufu to train tirelessly, and those with simple minds can make a hundred miles. However, there are not many today, and there is no choice of artistic ability. Violate the commandments and be willing to worship God? Slow down, will Anken respect the elderly? Do it yourself, be realistic? What legacy did Anneng's indulgence leave? Different talents are not heroes of all nationalities. Want more domestic servants, wide assets, teeth and horns, care about honesty and shame, touch the net and touch the net, build a car. Confucius said,' What you get, you lose. You can do anything if you suffer from loss. Therefore, my deputies think that your Majesty has people from Huang San and no officials from Huang San. "
Zhang Jian's two strategic combinations were rewarded by Wuhou and won the heart of Li Tang. Since then, he has become the number one scholar when he was prime minister. Since then, his official career has been smooth sailing, and he has served as an imperial adviser and a housekeeper in Fengge. In four years (704), he officially paid a visit to the Prime Minister in Chang 'an. However, in the second year of Zhang Cambodia (the first year of Shenlong), Wu Zetian was seriously ill, launched a Shenlong coup, got rid of his minions, and forced Wu Zetian to abdicate, welcome Zhongzong, and change Zhou to Tang. The reason why Zhang Jian was once again worshipped as prime minister in Zhongzong Dynasty was because he was restoring the meritorious service of the Tang Dynasty.
Wen Song Tian Xiang: Awesome and upright.
In ancient times, it was not easy to be a top scholar, and it was rare for father and son to be top scholars. In ancient China, there were five father-son champions, four of whom came from the Song Dynasty, which shows that the Song people were cautious in family education. Among the top scholars in the Song Dynasty, the most famous one is probably Wen Tianxiang, the top scholar in Chen Bing in the fourth year of Baoyu in the late Southern Song Dynasty (1256).
Wen Tianxiang Top Scholar and Its (Public Domain)
Wen Tianxiang was brilliant since he was a child and was known as a child prodigy. In the fourth year of Bao You, Wen Tianxiang went to Lin 'an to take the exam. Tired from the journey, he still felt uncomfortable until the exam. On the day of the trial, Wen Tianxiang tried his best to take the exam. Because of the large number of candidates, he was caught in the crowd of Jinshi, broke out in a sweat and woke up suddenly. After reading the topic of emperor's policy, he was full of thoughts, and his pen was flying like a fly. He wrote a piece of advice that criticized the current disadvantages and boldly innovated, which won the praise of the emperor, the loyalty of the emperor and the touch of the emperor. Zhao Yun and Song Lizong appointed Wen Tianxiang as the top scholar of the subject, and wrote poems to encourage him.
Wen Tianxiang's portrait is contained in Zhuzhuang's Biography (public domain).
In the last paragraph of Right Policy, Wen Tianxiang pointed out that Li Zong's "Road for a long time without contact, long without success, weather changes, people's livelihood exhausted." Talent is scarce, scholars are accustomed to floating, the national plan is weak, and the soldiers are weak. The blessing is not clear, and there are holes and thorns on the side. Isn't it enough to defend the world? "Asked, put forward the theory of" righteousness "and" straightness "and encouraged the emperor to cheer himself up, not only for the rule of Han and Tang dynasties, but also for the achievements of ancient emperors, so as to make peace. He said:
"If you build a road, the world will be public", "If the road around you is like a rock, it will be as straight as it is lost". Since ancient times, although the emperor worked hard, there was no one before. I'm from the mountains, and I feel like vomiting. Your majesty is disappointed to doubt my pedantic way, and talks about the depth of achievements in ancient and modern times, the speed of verification, and whether you have great dissatisfaction with today. I think that the evil of non-Tao is also true, the righteousness is not in the book, and the straightness is not in the stage of remonstration. It is based on your majesty's actions and efforts, not your ears. In this way, Zhongshu can be fairly fair in general politics, and Taiwan Province's remonstrance can go straight to accumulate skills for more than 30 years, but there is no international evil in it. I began to use the word "endless" to correct official evils, but your majesty's so-called meritorious political effect can be seen. Your majesty encouraged you and finally offered you' justice' and' integrity'. If your majesty thinks twice in his spare time, it is the Emperor, Han Yi and Tang Dynasty, and the rank is so far. "
Examiner Wang Yinglin commented that "ancient friendship is like a turtle mirror, loyal liver is like a stone", and the emperor gave a poem saying:
Tao Lixing. * * * makes sense and is pragmatic. I'm glad to hear that Ershi turned against Yan Ying.
There is no end to sincerity, no end to gentleness and no end to governance.
The function is really invincible, and it can also make peace with the royal family.
Zhao Ming Zhong Bing: Examination Paper of Top Scholars
The original paper of the first scholar in existence is Zhao's paper (1598).
The test paper is 47 long. 6 cm, width 14. 1 cm, the whole volume 19 fold, the top of the first fold is engraved with the seal script "Libu Seal", and the last fold is engraved with half. The first half of the test paper is Zhao's family resume, accounting for 40% off and 15% off the text. It is written in neat fine print, with six characters "No.1 No.1" in the upper right corner of the first page of the test paper and four characters "sealed" in regular script.
Examination paper of Zhao Tang, the champion of Ming Dynasty. (Collected in Qingzhou Museum, Chinese mainland)
Details of Zhao Tang, the champion of Ming Dynasty. (Collected in Qingzhou Museum, Chinese mainland)
As can be seen from the detailed map, when the emperor is mentioned in the article, it is always written at the beginning of the sentence, and the word "minister" is one size smaller than other words.
In the examination paper, Zhao put forward the theory of "harmony between man and nature", urging the emperor to pay attention to people's livelihood. He also deeply analyzed the current situation of the country, put forward a series of reform suggestions, and discussed the relationship between rule of law, rule of virtue and clean government, which showed his broad mind of governing the country and ensuring peace and stability, as well as being an honest official in the future. Zhao used "solid politics" and "solid" to respond to the question of "imperial politics and imperial heart" He said:
"What is real politics? Establish a statute, mark a statute, and hang it like a Wei watch. In the order of armor, they set out from the rock gallery facing Ning, scattered in various departments and hundreds of families, and reached Haiyue County. In the longitude and latitude, it is fully equipped and full of weeks. What is a solid? Vibration lazy, smart, profound, from the secret, from Mu Qing Palace, the wind of the country's hub, poured into the frontier, the spirit is considered, all smooth, the skin is decadent, no worries.
"Chen, the real government, the liegeman has something to suffer, there are legal procedures, the eyes and ears are integrated, and the audio-visual is not chaotic, so there is no distraction, and right and wrong are clear; If you are solid, you will have a tacit understanding, a hidden blessing, and a warm tolerance. You will not be too lazy, but will be cured. With this fixture, we can not only control the world with potential, but also show that the world should protect and cooperate with each other, while Yongxi can gradually realize it. If you have this cure, you will not move the world to the text, and you will say that the world is based on God and the rate is the same. "
Portrait of Zhao (public domain)
Zhao was born in an official family. According to legend, when he was young, one day he suddenly saw a pair of boots jumping on the bed in a hotel, thinking it was a good omen and soon became a top student in high school.