Poetry trial, also known as "provincial trial poetry" or "state trial poetry", is also called "provincial trial poetry" and "provincial title poetry" because the imperial examination in Tang Dynasty is held in Shangshu Province in Chang 'an, the capital city, for short. Qing people used to call it "trial post poem". Generally speaking, the rhyme in the Tang Dynasty is five words and six rhymes, and the rhyme in the Qing Dynasty is five words and eight rhymes. People have always disdained to mention trial poems. It is generally believed that it is similar to the eight-part essay in Ming and Qing Dynasties, but it is only a stepping stone for scholars in Tang and Song Dynasties to become officials, and it has no literary and artistic value. However, as a style of imperial examination, we might as well analyze it, hoping to arouse the thinking of contemporary educators.
First, the time and reasons for the development of trial poetry
Poetry trial began in Tang Dynasty and prevailed in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. Due to different origins, the time when trial poems came into being has always been debated by later generations. Most scholars are based on the Book of the New Tang Dynasty, all of which originated in the Yonglong period. However, Mr. Fu Xuancong believes that the essays tested at that time did not include trial poems.
"In the second year of Yonglong (68 1 year), Foreign Minister Liu Tijian suggested that in the Ming Dynasty, scholars only copied the old strategies, all died in reality, and some teachers took the number as the first. It is the letter of this classic, and there are more than six rough posts. Scholars try two articles, and those who know the law try strategies. "
("Selected Records of the New Tang Dynasty")
Mr. Fu Xuancong quoted Deng Keji Kao as saying that there are two kinds of texts, namely, exegesis and inscriptions. Since the beginning of Kaiyuan, poetry is one of them, or poetry is one of them, and some of them are poems, not customized. Therefore, he believes that the real time to try poetry is in the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. And "Yun Yin" also said that "since the middle Tang Dynasty, there has been a popular trial poem in the official examination, which is actually the arrangement of five words, six rhymes and twelve sentences." The problem of five words, six rhymes and twelve sentences will be discussed in the next chapter. We can see that "according to two essays, there is something to discuss." It is clearly stated in the Book of the New Tang Dynasty that "scholars should try two articles, and those who know the law should try their strategies again." Prose and rhythm. In other words, the composition must pay attention to rhythm. Put it on the table, it is a practical text, requiring conciseness and not paying attention to rhythm. As we know, the second year of Yonglong was the later period of Tang Gaozong and Li Zhi's rule, and Wu Zetian was also known as the "double saints" with him at that time. She likes poetry and singing, and she can sing poetry in entertainment places, which is very beneficial to poets. He was also a good poet, and the story that he ordered Shangguan Waner to comment on poems in Cailou was also known to everyone, so it was possible to select poems and fu in the period of Zhongzong. There is also a saying in "Tang Yanyan" that "there are three examinations in the first year of Shenlong, so poetry topics are often listed in the list".
Choosing scholars by poetry and fu is the product of the high development of poetry in Tang Dynasty. However, the trial poetry has been criticized by the world, mainly because it fetters people's hearts and there are no excellent works. Mr. Fu Xuancong also said in the Collection of Tang Poems that "the examination poems of the Jinshi in the Tang Dynasty played a negative role in the development of literature." It is true that the development of things has its positive side and negative side, but the key is to see which is more important. If the negative effect is dominant, then why can trial poetry develop smoothly? This point, Mr. Fu Xuancong also said several points in "Essays on Tang Poetry". "The imperial examination is geared to the landlord class as a whole, and its main content is cultural examination, which stimulates the landlord class to educate their children and objectively promotes social popularization." Let's not talk about whether the imperial examination is geared to the landlord class as a whole, at least its positive role has been reflected. What really attracts students may be the policy of "no corvee in imperial examinations". "Quantang Wen" Volume 66 "Mu Zong Imperial Decree" will turn people into people, and they must learn first. If they are promoted to monarch, they should be distinguished from Lu Xiang. Every committee secretariat and county magistrate promotes Confucianism, explicitly encourages it, and becomes a scholar, which means exemption. ""This is in terms of the imperial examination. So why is the position of trial poetry so important? Mr. Jin Kun said in his "Imperial Examination System and China Culture", "Poetry and Fu examination requires scholars to have a lot of historical and cultural knowledge, and also requires them to have vivid image thinking ability and aesthetic feeling ability, so they are more fresh, lively and full of aura than those who stick to classics and express their ideas." However, in addition to the above reasons, there are the following reasons.
First of all, after the mid-Tang Dynasty, because the examiner thought that Confucian classics lacked real talents and learned by rote, poetry and fu were listed as the first subject in the Jinshi examination, which was the most basic and important reason.
The following April. In addition to taking the foreign minister exam, Liu. The first time. Jinshi is just an attempt strategy. The thinking is simple. Play the book of invitation. And try prose. After that, I thought it was a routine.