Chapter 9 Section 3 The Procedures of the Imperial Examination in the Tang Dynasty

Candidates who participated in the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty came from two sources: One is "shengtu", that is, the students who were studying in the central government schools and local government schools at that time.As long as they pass the examination in the school, they can directly take the examination hosted by the imperial court minister, also known as the provincial examination. The second is "Xianggong", that is, educated young people who do not go to school and want to take the imperial examination can apply to the government of the state or county where they live.

The way to apply for the examination is: every mid-winter (November of the lunar calendar), the Central Government School and the State and County Schools submit the list of "students" who have passed the internal examination to the Ministry of Ministers. For "Xianggong", each person should bring their identity materials and resumes to the state and county where they are located.State and county levels test them.The qualified ones will be given a farewell party by the local official Shi, and then sent to Chang'an, the capital city, to take part in the provincial examination of Shangshu Province.Regardless of "Shengtu" or "Xianggong", after reporting to the Ministry of Shangshu, you must fill in your name and resume and a bond (with a guarantor). (736 A.D.) It was transferred to the Ministry of Rites.The time for the examination of the Ministry of Rites is about late spring (March in the lunar calendar) every year.So at that time there was a proverb that "the Sophora japonica flower is yellow, and the child is busy", and Su Dongpo later wrote the poem "Forcibly follow the child to step on the Sophora japonica flower, and the Sophora japonica flower is still as busy as before".After the provincial examination releases the list, those who pass the examination will take part in the re-examination by the Ministry of Officials.Simply put, the steps to apply for the examination are: Township Examination (State and County Examination) - Provincial Examination (Shangshu Provincial Rites Examination) - Ministry of Officials Reexamination.

The Tang court stipulated that people who violated the laws and regulations of the Tang Dynasty, sons of businessmen, and small government officials in prefectures and counties were not allowed to take the imperial examination.If the above-mentioned unqualified scholars are recommended to take the exam in Shangshu Province, whether it is the school's sacrificial wine or the magistrate's history, they will be punished.Therefore, "Xin Tangshu·Electoral Records" said: "Anyone who does not give tributes will be abolished; those who fail to verify the facts in the school examination will be punished." Tang law has specific regulations on this: "All tributes are not given People, and those who accept the tribute but do not pay the tribute, one person will be imprisoned for one year, and the two will be added to the first class. In order to ensure the fairness of the imperial examinations, some emperors paid private visits in disguise, listened to opinions from various parties, and investigated the gains and losses of the imperial examinations; some emperors personally set the questions and presided over the examinations; It is said that the disciple was born in a private family and did not know that there was a court and an emperor.

The imperial examination in the Tang Dynasty was initially presided over by Wailang, an examiner of the Ministry of Officials. Later, because the examiner of the Ministry of Officials, Wailang, was from the sixth rank and had a low status, it was inconvenient to preside over the national-scale imperial examination. In the twenty-fourth year of Kaiyuan (736 AD) The edict was presided over by the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the minister of the Ministry of Rites was on the fourth rank. From then on, the imperial examinations were changed to be in charge of the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites was responsible to the court and the emperor.The transfer of the management power of the imperial examinations and the improvement of the quality of the main department have also relatively improved the authority, seriousness and appeal of the imperial examinations.In addition, the examination is performed by the Ministry of Rites, and the selection of officials is performed by the Ministry of Officials, which can also play a role in the separation of powers. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials can supervise and restrict each other, and are jointly responsible to the court and the emperor.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Ministry of Rites set up the Gong Yuan, where examinations and marking were held.The officials who preside over the provincial examination are called "Zhigong Ju", and they are generally called "Chief Secretary", "Chief Examiner", "Main Text" and "Yousi".The emperor sometimes dispatched them on temporary missions, such as Minister of the Ministry of War, Minister of the Door, Minister of the Household Department, Sheren of Zhongshu, Guozi Jijiu, Shangshu Youcheng, Taichang Shaoqing, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Zuo Pushe, and Minister of the Ministry of Industry , Zuo Jianyi doctor, Huangmen Shilang, Yushi Zhongcheng, Xingbu Shangshu and other officials acted as examiners.

Provincial examinations are generally held in Chang'an, the capital, but there are exceptions. For example, when Emperor Suzong was in chaos during the Anshi Rebellion, scholars were displaced and traffic was cut off, the provincial examinations were held in several places.During Daizong's time, when floods, droughts and famines were widespread throughout the country, Jia Zhigongju, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, suggested that the provincial examination be held in Chang'an, the capital, and Luoyang, the eastern capital, so Zhigongju was called "knowing the two capitals" at that time.