After the unification of the whole country, the Sui Dynasty was short-lived, but it created the most advanced official selection system in the world, that is, the "imperial examination", which changed the history of the gentry's attack and created a career path for the children of poor families. After further reforms in the Tang Dynasty and other dynasties, the ancient imperial examinations became more and more perfect. No matter rich or poor, old or young, as long as they are willing to learn, they will have the opportunity to be officials. Some people have never been admitted, and some people have become champions when they are young. Fan Jinzhong Residence is the most typical novel describing the imperial examination system. It satirizes the imperial examination system, but this policy of selecting cadres was advanced in ancient times and contributed to the development of ancient dynasties.
The imperial examination of moving south in Song Dynasty
Song Zhenzong, the third emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, wrote three sentences in his famous poem "Li Xue Pian": "There are Qian Qian's millet in the book, there is a golden house in the book, and there is Yan Ruyu in the book". These three poems are a great encouragement to the students in the Song Dynasty, and let people know that as long as they study hard, they will not only be promoted and rich, but even be proud of their ancestors and have beautiful wives and concubines. It attracts scholars from all over the world to regard the imperial examination as a major event in life.
The imperial examination system in Song Dynasty is different from that in Sui and Tang Dynasties, and its methods and methods have developed greatly. The imperial examinations in Song Dynasty were mostly in the southeast coastal areas, especially in Fujian. According to "Song History Geography": "Learn from others, like to talk and recite, write articles, especially candidates". According to statistics, during the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, there were more than 28,000 Jinshi, and there were more than 7,000 Jinshi in Fujian alone, accounting for nearly a quarter. It can be seen that Fujian people were imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty.
According to records, in the eighth year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1 138), Fujian people made history in this year. This year, the imperial examination was the last exam for Song people to move south. Zhu Zhen, a bachelor of imperial academy, took the exam and * * * selected 293 Jinshi. In the final ranking, the top three are all from Fujian, the first is Huang Gongdu from Putian, Fujian, the second is from Putian, and the third is Chen Xiu from Fuzhou. Fujian people swept the top three.
Send the princess directly to the palace for the exam.
At this time, Song Gaozong and Zhao Gou are busy moving their capital to Lin 'an. Faced with the oppression of the rulers, Zhao Gou made peace with the Jin people and had no time to take care of these candidates, so he cancelled the entrance examination. However, after posting, Song Gaozong became interested in this group of candidates, because three people from Fujian accounted for the top three. Zhao Gou took time to see three people.
The first people to meet were the first and the second. Zhao Gou asked Huang Gongdu and Chen Junqing, "What's strange about your land?" You Fujian Putian people are so awesome. What's so strange about them? Huang Gongdu replied first: "Wearing brocade makes a yellowbird beautiful, and it conveys seal fertilizer." . It is said that the local specialties are very good. Chen Junqing was worried about the second place, but he said: "Pine and cypress are planted in thin land, and poor children go to school." Zhao Gou listened to Chen Junqing's words and praised him: "Public servants are not as good as Jun Qing, and Chen Junqing should be the champion."
After meeting the champion and the second place, Zhao Gou met Chen Xiu. When Chen Xiu stood in front of Zhao Gou, he never imagined that the old man was exploring flowers. According to historical records, the reason why Chen Xiu was admitted to the second place was also related to his study for decades and his obsession with reading, and he didn't even get a wife. However, in this expedition, Chen Xiu combined the fact that Song people crossed the south and the northern soil was occupied, and wrote an article on strategic conception. In particular, there is a saying: "the golden embankment in the green ridge is the land that will be reclaimed in a few days;" Taishan jade, when will the Zen dust clear? " Let people feel the same way and have confidence in recovering lost ground in the future. Zhao Gou especially appreciates it.
In Zhao Gou's eyes, the writer of this article must be a gifted scholar with great courage, but he didn't expect to be an old man with white hair and beard. Zhao Gou asked Chen Xiu how old he was. Chen Xiu said he was 73 years old, but he was actually 72 years old.
Zhao Gou thinks that Chen Xiu is so old and his children should be very old. He didn't even marry his wife until he asked. Facing the examinee who wrote down his thoughts, Zhao Gou showed compassion. He made an unexpected decision at once.
According to Luo Dajing's "He Lin Yu Lu" in the Southern Song Dynasty, when faced with Chen Xiushi, he immediately ordered: "This is a letter to my wife Shi, who is thirty years old and very rich." He married one of his 30-year-old concubines to Chen Xiu and gave him a lot of gold, silver and dowry.
Chen Xiu didn't expect that she could marry a beautiful wife when she was old. What excites Chen Xiu most is marrying the emperor's concubine. So someone joked, "If a newcomer asks Lang what year it is, it will be twenty-three fifty years ago." .
Why did Zhao Gou give away all his women so generously?
Zhao Gou didn't have much skill, but after the Song people moved to the south, he always wanted to restore the Central Plains and be the king of ZTE, especially to meditate on Mount Tai like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Qin Shihuang to show the power of the emperor. Therefore, when reading Chen Xiu's article, Zhao Gou was very moved. And he didn't expect it to come from an old man. If he doesn't reward, he will make everyone laugh. Therefore, Zhao Gou made such a decision. Of course, women who are sent out are also unwelcome in the harem, and Zhao Gou's favorite concubine will never be sent.
Reflection on the Imperial Examination
Song Zhenzong wrote the poem "There is Yan Ruyu in the book", which was realized by his descendants. Zhao Gou gave his concubine to Chen Xiu, making the whole world regard reading as the only way to realize the glory of life. I have to say that Zhao Gou's "Send the Princess" has strengthened the scientific research atmosphere of scholars around the world and strengthened the confidence of literati.
However, when Chen Xiuhua was an official in the Song Dynasty, he didn't do much. After all, an old man married his wife and didn't have much energy to contribute to the country. However, Huang Gongdu and Chen Junqing became famous officials in the Song Dynasty. Huang Gongdu was removed from his post after being framed by Qin Gui. After being reinstated, he died in the position of Yuan Wailang. And Chen Junqing later became the prime minister, and named Wei Guogong.
It can be seen from the historical data of the imperial examination in the Southern Song Dynasty that it is unscientific to judge the ancient imperial examination by the level of literati when selecting talents. But as long as the article conforms to the emperor, it may become the top three. Even if the literary talent is high, if the articles written do not meet the appetite of the ruling class at that time, they will not be admitted to the exam. Therefore, although the imperial examination system is ahead of the world, it also has certain limitations.
In addition, imperial examinations let students study not for true knowledge, but for fame and fortune. Although it conforms to Confucianism, it also makes China people form the concept that "being an official is to realize the value of life" for thousands of years, which has not been eliminated so far.