Chapter 6 Chapter Three The Examination System During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties
The period of Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties was a period in ancient Chinese history that changed from unification to division and long-term wars.During this period, school education was abolished, especially the number of state-run government schools was greatly reduced, and the general trend of school education was declining.In terms of the examination system of school education, the Taixue examination system in Wei Dynasty was relatively sound.
In the fifth year of Huangchu, Emperor Wen of Wei Dynasty (224 A.D.), the Taixue was officially established in Luoyang, and the "Five Classics Class Test Method" was formulated.This is the continuation and development of the Taixue course examination system in the second year of Yongshou (AD 156) of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty.Both follow the old system and are slightly different.It stipulates that those who have just entered the imperial school are called "disciples". After two years of study, those who pass the exam are called "disciples" and become official imperial students.In fact, the first two years are equivalent to preparatory students or probationary students.In the future, the disciples will continue to study in Taixue, adding another test every two or three years.Those who know the Second Classics are called "Literary Stories".Those who fail can continue to study and take the exam after two years.Those who have mastered the three classics are called "Prince Sheren". Those who fail to pass continue to study and take the exam again next time.Those who master the Four Classics are called "doctors", and those who fail will take the exam again next time.It was not until after the Five Classics were mastered that they were used and granted higher official positions.This shows that the Taixue in the Wei Dynasty still focused on the examination of Confucian classics, with the purpose of cultivating officials in feudal countries.Tai students can be officials during their studies at school. The higher the grade and the more they have mastered the classics, the higher the official position.After graduating from Taixue, you don't need to pass the examinations of other government departments to work.This examination system is actually a system that combines school education and civil service examination and appointment.Moreover, examinations are held every two or three years, and screening is layered, which is also meaningful for improving and ensuring the quality of education in Taixue.However, due to the short period of Zuo (zuozuo) in the Wei Dynasty and the later Jin Dynasty and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the frequent wars, the entire official school education was in a state of fad and fad, so the official school examination system was difficult to implement.
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, there were separatist turmoil, frequent wars, the dispersal of scholars, and the destruction of townships, pavilions, and local organizations. As a result, the "Xiangjuli election" system since the Han Dynasty was actually difficult to implement.During this period, powerful landlords monopolized the political power and formed a powerful clan group.This privileged landlord group naturally demanded to control the power of being an official.The gentry have different levels of status.So how to distribute political power according to the level of the powerful?This necessitates a reform of the selection system.
Cao Cao boldly promoted scholars from humble backgrounds, and put forward the employment policy of "selecting talents only for recruitment". abandon them.Therefore, he has recruited many handsome heroes.He selected talents in an eclectic manner, in order to change the situation since the Eastern Han Dynasty, when celebrities from aristocratic families presided over the township's appraisal and control the inspection, and served to establish his own centralized rule.
However, Cao Cao's practice of employing people regardless of their family status was resisted by the powerful and noble families, so he never ascended the throne of emperor.After Cao Pi came to the throne, he followed the advice of Chen Qun, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and implemented the "Nine-rank Zhongzheng Official Personnel Law", which recognized the privilege of the gentry to be an official, and won the support of the aristocratic family.
The specific method of "Nine Ranks Zhongzheng Official Personnel Law" is:
⑴Set Zhongzheng County to set up small Zhongzheng officials, prefectures to set up large Zhongzheng officials, and Situ selects current court officials who are "virtuous and knowledgeable" to concurrently serve as their original county small Zhongzheng or prefecture Da Zhongzheng.
⑵Pindi character Zhongzhengguan is responsible for visiting scholars of the same origin, understanding their family origins, sorting out their morality and ability performance materials, and making short general comments based on them. "Family background" is also called "character", and the person's talent is called "appearance".The ranking is divided into nine grades: upper upper, upper middle, upper lower, middle upper, middle middle, middle lower, lower upper, lower middle, lower lower.
⑶According to the quality of the officials, the Zhongzhengguan will make the relevant archives and materials of the Pindi scholars into a list, and send them to Situ Mansion regularly, and then they will be used by Shang Shuli after Situ's approval.Usually, the rank and rank of the official position must be consistent, that is, those with the highest rank are appointed as high-ranking officials, and those with the lowest rank are appointed as low-ranking officials.To be promoted, one must be promoted, and to be demoted is to be removed from office.
The Jiupin Zhongzheng System is an election system that imitated celebrities to control the township theory under the specific historical conditions of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and then controlled the power of selecting talents.It is not only a reflection of the state's employment system in the way of "monthly evaluation" and controlling scholars, but also a restriction on the famous families.This kind of restriction on celebrities and famous families determines that the Jiupin Zhongzheng System is progressive to a certain extent, and it has indeed played a positive role in selecting talents and promoting talents.Especially in the first period of time, the government was more cautious in selecting Zhongzheng officials. Many Zhongzheng officials met the standards of "virtuous and talented" and "virtuous and discerning". Zhongzheng officials are generally more serious and responsible, and those who are not responsible will be corrected; Characters of character can take talent and virtue as the main basis, rather than focusing on family background.In this way, to a certain extent, the situation of state and county celebrities manipulating public opinion, recommending and expropriating since the Eastern Han Dynasty was reversed, and the evil trend of flashy cronies was more or less swept away.The central government's control over electoral power is strengthened, and the country can often get some useful talents.The above-mentioned "clear and stable" system also helps scholars to forge ahead, and helps officials to be loyal to their duties and act honestly.The establishment of Jiupin Zhongzheng System is an innovation of the selection system.
However, during the Wei and Jin dynasties, the power of the gentry was expanding day by day, and Zhongzheng officials were almost monopolized by the gentry officials who occupied the court. It has developed to the point that "there is no poor family in the upper class, and no noble family in the lower class".As a result, the "Nine-rank Zhongzheng System" became a tool to expand the power of the gentry and consolidate the system of aristocrats.This blocked the way for people from poor families to become officials, and the enthusiasm of intellectuals from poor families was severely damaged.Zuo Si, a famous writer in the Western Jin Dynasty, wrote angrily in the poem "Ode to History":
And those children of the powerful and noble families also disdain to study, what they talk about is xuanxuan, even if they study Confucian classics, they are used as materials for idle talk, of course they are even more unwilling to study Confucian classics seriously, which seriously affected the school education at that time and academic climate.
The Jiupin Zhongzheng system is the pillar of the official selection system in this historical period.However, when the imperial court selected people to serve as officials, it had to go through some specific ways to achieve this.These methods, in general, still followed some methods of the Han Dynasty.During the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, examinations were also held.The section on filial piety and honesty examines Confucian classics;At that time, the Chaju often held two exams: filial piety and integrity and scholar.For example, during the Taishi period of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 265-274), Queshen (xi shen Xishen) and Ruan Zhong were all ranked "upper" in the examinations after being elected. Some people suspected that there were fakes in them, so Emperor Wu of Jin specially called a group of scholars Participating in the policy inquiry held in the court, Emperor Wu of Jin personally reviewed their countermeasures, and "was promoted to the first place again".Emperor Wu of Jin was very happy, and asked Shen: "What do you think you are?" ).This is a rare treasure, a metaphor for the preciousness of talents.The so-called "gui" in "a branch of Guilin" refers to the laurel tree in the moon.Later, because it is said that there is a golden toad in the moon, the moon is also called "Toad Palace", so it is the first place in the examination, also known as "Deng Chan Palace".Bai Juyi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, was admitted to the Jinshi first, and his younger brother Bai Minzhong was also admitted to the Jinshi. He wrote a poem to congratulate his younger brother: "Give me a branch of laurel first, and it will be amazing to wear three leaves of poplar." Zhongjinshi.For another example, Ji Shao, the governor of the state, recommended Hua Tan as a scholar, and Emperor Wu of Jin personally tried it, thinking that Hua Tan's outstanding talent was unmatched by Kyushu scholars and Xiaolian.This shows that Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty attached great importance to examinations.
In the early years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, all local recommended scholars and filial piety were not tested, and the imperial court immediately conferred official positions.In the third year of Daxing (320 A.D.), Emperor Yuandi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty ordered the test scriptures. ").That is to say, Xiaolian and Xiucai recommended by the local government still have to take exams, and if their grades are too poor, the governor and prefect of the recommended local government will be removed from office.Therefore, many filial and honest scholars did not dare to report to the court, and even if they came, they excused their illness and refused to take the exam.This reflects that many of the Xiaolian and scholars who were recommended at that time were uneducated, and they were only recommended based on their family background and connections.In response to this situation, Minister Kong Tan suggested that the recommended scholars and Xiaolian should study in school for a few years before taking the exam.Emperor Yuan agreed that Xiaolian could postpone the exam after seven years after he was admitted, while Xiucai still had to take the exam after he was admitted.Therefore, scholars from Zhuzhou were afraid when they heard that there was an exam and refused to go. As a result, Gu Jian was the only one who reported and failed to take the exam.
In the second year of Yongchu (AD 421), Emperor Wudi of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, Emperor Wu went to Yanxian Hall to inquire about scholars, expressing that he attached great importance to examinations.During the reign of Emperor Wen of Song and Yuanjia (424-453 A.D.), the only person who could be an official was over 30 years old, which increased the age limit.Because it is quite common to make up and falsify in the recommendation, Emperor Xiaowu ordered in the first year of Xiaojian (AD 454) that "no talent should be recommended", and those recommended would be sent back to their hometowns or even imprisoned if they were unfit for appointment.In the third year of Emperor Taishi of the Ming Dynasty (467 A.D.), the minister ordered Shi Luozai to propose the evaluation criteria for talents in the policy examination. Answering all five questions correctly was regarded as superior; Inferior, those who can't answer a question correctly will fail.Xie Qizong, a doctor in Shangshudian, disagreed with this method. He believed that it should not depend on the number of answers, but the depth of the answers.Finally, Emperor Xiaowu agreed with Luo Zai's suggestion.This is the first time that specific scoring standards for "countermeasures" have been put forward since the implementation of the examination system in ancient China.
In the fourth year of Tianjian (A.D. 505), Emperor Liangwu of the Southern Dynasty established the Doctor of Five Classics and opened the "Five Halls".There is no limit to the number of students in the fifth hall, which not only takes care of the rights of the gentry, but also gives the children of small and medium-sized landlords the opportunity to receive education.Therefore, the disciples from all over the world went to school [ji urgently] to study very enthusiastically, and the number of students in the fifth hall once reached hundreds or nearly a thousand.In the eighth year of Tianjian (509 A.D.), Emperor Wu of Liang ordered that anyone who passed the examination and passed the first classics should be hired at will, and the children of small and medium-sized landlords and poor families are no exception.According to "Chen Shu·Ru Lin Biography": Cen Zhijing was 16 years old. He took the exam "Chunqiu Zuoshi Zhuan" and "Book of Filial Piety" with excellent grades and was promoted to Gaodi. Therefore, he was awarded the official position of "Feng Che Lang" and given generous rewards. "Yan's Family Instructions Mian Xue" said: The noble children of the Liang Dynasty often "take care of others to answer the questions" in the exams, that is, they hire people to take the exams for themselves.In the eighth year of Datong (542 A.D.), Yuan Xian was a student of Guozixue at the age of 14. Zhou Hong, a doctor of Guozixue, was taking a public exam. He asked difficult questions, but Yuan Xian looked calm and answered correctly.Dr. Guozixue was very satisfied.At that time, Guozixue students often bribed and cheated in the exams, but Yuan Xian's father refused to follow the wrong path and strictly demanded Yuan Xian, so the examiners made things difficult for him, and Yuan Xian answered them fluently, and was soon promoted to the highest rank.This fact not only describes the obvious strengthening of Liang Dai's examination trend, but also reflects the disadvantages of bribery and hiring people to answer for them in the examination.
The exams for Xiaolian and Xiucai in the Northern Dynasties were the same as those in the Southern Dynasties.Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty issued many imperial edicts to inspect the case, and visited the Hall of Siyi in person to inquire about Xiuxiao.During the time of Emperor Xuanwu, filial piety and scholarly policy questions were popular, and there were many people every year.The investigation of filial piety and integrity focuses on the chapters and sentences of the Confucian classics, and the policy and inquiry on scholars focuses on literary accomplishment.According to "Wei Shu·Wen Yuan Biography": When Emperor Xiaoming was a scholar, he "asked for five strategies".This is inherited from the examination standard of Emperor Song and Ming in the Southern Dynasties when answering all five questions was the best policy.The Northern Qi Dynasty inherited the old system of the Northern Wei Dynasty and paid more attention to examinations. In the tenth year of Emperor Wenxuan's Tianbao (559 A.D.), he ordered Xin Shu to inspect and recruit 100 officials.There are ten shooting strategies in the examination, and if you can pass more than eight, you will be given a ninth-rank official position.The emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty often sat in the court, and personally tested the talents and filial piety. Those who found mistakes and omissions were called and reprimanded, and they were fined to stand behind the table; , That is to say, he took his seat and untied his saber.This is a way for the emperor to use the examination to select officials centrally, and it is also the harbinger of the later imperial examination.In the late Northern Dynasties, due to the decline of the Jiupin Zhongzheng system, the requirements for family background were continuously relaxed when recommending filial piety and scholarly talents, while the requirements for examinations became more and more stringent.
The selection of Xiuxiao in the Northern Dynasties formed the examination pattern of Xiucai Examination Papers, Xiaolian Examination Classics and strict examination grades, and the method of dismissal appeared, which led to the trend of Chaju Xiuxiao becoming an examination-centered selection system evolve.
In addition, in order to change the status of the nobles and nobles who were "level and progressive" and receiving rewards for nothing, the supreme ruler of the Northern Dynasties strengthened the examination system for officials. "Wei Shu Gaozu Xiaowen Emperor Ji" Taihe Eighteenth Year (494 A.D.): "If you want to make fools and stagnation, it will not harm the sages, so that they will not be blocked (yong) by the inferiors. It is the third class. The Shangshu below the sixth rank will ask again, and if the fifth rank is above, I will personally discuss the good and evil with the public." Wei Xuanwu Emperor Jingming (500-503 A.D.) and later "three years into one test, one test to the first level "("Wei Shu·Cui Hong Biography")'s examination institutionalization.The results of the exam directly affect the issue of relocation. For example, "Wei Shu·Cui Ting Biography" records: "Everyone actually called the test, in order to move to Syria." Recruitment, school selection, and official examinations. The increasingly powerful imperial power of the Northern Dynasties strengthened the examination system to promote talents to ensure that well-trained officials were able to take on duties and ensure the normal operation of the bureaucratic machinery. The status of imperial power restrains the power of the gentry.At the same time, many abuses of the Jiupin Zhongzheng system are remedied by strengthening the examinations in the examination and examination of officials.
In short, the Jiupin Zhongzheng System, which was dominant during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, started with "only talents" but ended with suppressing talents.During this period, the inspection and selection system of the Han Dynasty was still used, but it was included in the scope restricted by Zhongzheng.Mao Hanguang said in "Research on Gentleman Politics in the Two Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties": "Scholars, filial piety, and virtuous achievements are rated as the second grade by Zhongzheng; those with medium grades are rated as the third grade by Zhongzheng; those with low grades are evaluated by Zhongzheng. It is the fourth rank. The so-called upper class, middle class, and lower class are based on the standard of policy and inquiry." Although Chaju scholars are also included in the scope of Zhongzheng Pindi, they are completely different from Zhongzheng Pindi scholars. Not to mention, their grades are determined by their test scores.Examinations became a distinctive part of the examination system. The emperor often used the examination system to show filial piety to revive the bureaucratic politics under the imperial power and suppress the gentry politics.However, the strengthening of examinations in Chaju Xiuxiaozhong already included some elements of the examination selection system.For example, Chaju Xiuxiao made preparations for the subject setting of the imperial examination selection system, and Chaju Xiuxiao began to show signs of free application for the examination. The methods and elimination methods also provide reference for the imperial examination system.Therefore, in the late Southern and Northern Dynasties, the focus of the implementation of the probationary system began to shift to the examination aspect, which gave birth to the emergence of the national examination system for subject recruitment and scholars' free application for examination.The Jiupin Zhongzheng System, which relies on door capital, can no longer meet the requirements of social development, and a new type of examination system for selecting officials is urgently needed to replace it, and the imperial examination system came into being.