Today, the imperial examination system has disappeared for a hundred years. We can abandon the passion of supporters and opponents when the imperial examination was abolished, evaluate the imperial examination system fairly and explore the possibility of creative transformation. Paradoxically, however, the desirable elements in the imperial examination system seem to have been abandoned, and its absurd side seems to haunt people all the time.
Britain.
"It will be like gunpowder and printing."
Britain's civil service examination system absorbed the principle of equal competition and the preferred recruitment method of the imperial examination, and abandoned the useless ancient classics of the imperial examination, which was later imitated by other European and American countries and Japan.
1835 China resident geers pointed out: "the imperial examination is incomparable to other big monarchies in past dynasties. Perhaps this is the only system they created that is worth preserving, and this system has not been adopted by other countries. Maybe one day, like gunpowder and printing, it will cause another great change in the national system, even in European countries. "
1847, Dumas, who had been to China, published Notes on China, calling for the establishment of a competitive examination system open to all British subjects with an almost fanatical attitude, so as to improve the level of British administrative officials and promote the unification of the British Empire.
1994, 100 abolished the Korean memorial imperial examination and held a mock imperial examination, in which two champions were admitted.
1854, Macaulay and others submitted the Report on Indian Civil Service System to the British Parliament, suggesting that a complete examination system should be established, and an examination center in charge of an authority should be fully responsible for the examination; The examination must adopt a competitive written test method and make specific requirements for the age, health and conduct of the candidates; Senior positions should have competitive examinations equivalent to the highest academic qualifications in China.
1855 in may, after parliamentary debate, Britain implemented the civil service examination system.
1870 in June, the newly elected government of Pa Max Don issued an order in Council on the employment of royal government officials, stipulating that anyone who wants to work in government departments must pass competitive examinations. At this point, the British civil service examination has been institutionalized and standardized.
1in April, 857, the authoritative British publication Westminster Review commented: "These' foreigners' (Britons) in China really just learned a page from the books of China Imperial Examination."
United States of America
"We are in a wild age, and China people are already learning."
After 65438+ 1960, the United States is also considering adopting the civil service examination system based on merit. The civil service examination system in the United States is basically a product of imitating Britain, but historical data show that the imperial examination system in China also influenced the civil service examination system in the United States to some extent.
1848, Williams said in the book "The Middle Kingdom": "From the results of scientific research, many officials at the top of the China government have extremely admirable talents and knowledge, as well as patriotic, upright and orderly working attitudes. It has maintained the operation of the country's huge machine and maintained the enduring Chongwen atmosphere. "
1870, Speer (Chinese name Shi Huilian) said in the book "The Oldest and Youngest Countries: China and the United States": "The competition of China people makes the political principles of the whole government management open. Listen! In western countries, it has no hereditary rank, perhaps no personal glory, it has no power of wealth, it does not advocate cronyism, and it does not cater to secular prejudice and interests. "
1873, the American Civil Service Commission declared in its report: "When our mainland was still in the flood era, Confucius was already teaching moral politics, and China people were already learning, using compasses, gunpowder and multiplication tables. However, using the imperial examination system in the most civilized countries in the East will take away the advantages of us Americans more than anything mentioned above (if we have any advantages). What is the reason? If the role of China's religion or monarchy is not fully affirmed, there is no explanation. "
1883, the us congress passed the civil service examination bill based on the principle of equal competition, stipulating that the recruitment of government officials must go through public examinations and select the best. Since then, hiring civil servants through examinations has become a basic principle of the American civil service system.
From 65438 to 0893, the American civil service examination system was completely established.
Japan
Imperial examination controlled by powerful people
In the 7th-8th century, the Japanese introduced the legal system of China, and imitated the system of the Tang Dynasty to implement the tribute system.
Due to the imperial examination system in the Tang Dynasty, the official discipline gradually ceased to be abolished and flourished, but in Japan, after 730 AD, the official discipline gradually flourished and declined.
Japan's tribute system, because the nobles are in charge of the government and the learned officials are hereditary, is basically in charge of the nobles after the 10 century. Doctors recommend students to take part in the imperial examination, not based on their ability, but on their qualifications and fame, which leads to the regularization of the imperial examination system.
1 1 century later, the formal provincial examination continued, but the candidates were recommended by powerful people, and the candidates were almost unconditional. The imperial examination system has been completely alienated.
In the early years of Meiji, in order to select talents and promote the Reform Movement, 1869, the scholar Kanda Xiaoping, who entered the new government, put forward the proposal of "Jinshi and the law" to the public consultation office, and advocated the establishment of a bureaucratic examination system in modern Japan with reference to "Han Shi and the law", that is, the imperial examination system in China. Exam subjects pay attention to practicality. Although this proposal was adopted by the public, it was not supported by powerful people and was not implemented. The examination system for selecting talents was finally replaced by the modern school system.
Korea.
"Justice in China lies in the Imperial Examination"
From 958 to 1894, the Korean imperial examination system existed for 936 years in history, becoming the longest and most complete imperial examination system outside China.
In the nearly 500-year-old Koryo dynasty, the imperial examination system was actually formed by the systems of Tang, Five Dynasties, Song and Yuan Dynasties. Specifically, the Korean system originated directly from the Sui and Tang Dynasties, including three examinations of rites, three examinations of candles (night examination), three examinations of spring and March (spring examination), and subjects such as "guest" and "mantra".
19 (1372) After Ming Taizu sent an imperial edict, North Korea's imperial examination procedures were formulated in accordance with the Ming system, with more than 500 words in the first test of the Five Classics and more than 300 words in four books. The second trial of "On Rites and Music", with more than 300 words; The third trial strategy, 1000 words. Only direct business, not good at words.
In AD 1392, the Li Dynasty rectified the declining imperial examination system and formulated the imperial examination law, trying to explain the meaning of the Four Books and Five Classics from the beginning. However, after the implementation of several subjects, practice has proved that "classic talents" cannot be selected.
Imperial examinations in the Li Dynasty were more frequent than those in China at the same time, and subjects were offered almost every year. "The only way for a country to employ people is the imperial examination." . The position of imperial examination in the Li Dynasty is no less than that of imperial examination in the history of China.
There is a saying in South Korea that "China's justice lies only in the imperial examination" and "Mense is a private and public, flashy Confucian". Although there were voices from time to time to reform or even abolish the imperial examination, the imperial examination system did not stop until AD 1894. If it weren't for Japanese oppression, the imperial examination would continue for some time.
○ Vietnam
A country that finally abolished the imperial examination
From 1075 to 19 19, Vietnam was the latest country to implement and finally abolish the imperial examination.
The Li Dynasty established the imperial examination system, imitated China, and implemented the three-subject examination. According to "Yue Shi Zi Zhi Tong Jian", in the fourth year of Renzong Taining (1075), "Ming Jinshi tried three times, and the first choice was to study as a teacher. The national subject begins from now on. "
In A.D. 1807, Ruan's ancestral home was tested, and its system was imitated by China's imperial examination in Qing Dynasty. Its form and content are still similar to China Imperial Examination.
In A.D. 1832, the eight-part essay examination style was introduced to Vietnam.
After the Hue Treaty was signed between France and Vietnam in A.D. 1884, French colonists actually replaced the rule of the Vietnamese emperor, and the new western learning shook the position of Confucianism. China's Reform Movement of 1898 also influenced Viet Nam. After China abolished the imperial examination system, the Vietnamese imperial examination became more deserted.
1906, Vietnam established the Education Improvement Committee, and new schools were founded one after another, gradually replacing the imperial examination education that taught Confucianism.
19 19 Vietnam held the final subject examination and won 23 places. Since then, the imperial examination system has finally completely withdrawn from the historical stage in the history of Vietnam and even the world.