明代温州科举的衰落

Decline of Imperial Examination Results in Wenzhou Prefecture in Ming Dynasty

南宋时温州进士人数高居浙江第一、全国第二,入元后其进士人数迅速下滑至浙江中下水平。本文通过详尽的进士人数统计,发现明前期六十多年间温州进士涌现率一度居浙江中上水平,但正统年间之后其科举迅速转弱,延至明末,已成为浙江科举最落后的地区。通过统计举人数量后发现,导致温州籍进士人数偏少的直接原因是温州籍读书人在历届乡试中不能取得佳绩,并且越来越差。在此基础上,本文全面分析了导致明代温州科举衰落的深层次原因。

In Southern Song Dynasty,the quantity of Jinshi(the highest and final degree in the imperial examination,sometimes called recipients)in Wenzhou ranked first in Zhejiang Province and second nationwide.Down to Yuan Dynasty,the number of people achieved Jinshi degrees reduced rapidly to a mid-low level in Zhejiang Province.Statistics reflected that Jinshi from Wenzhou were above the average comparing to those from elsewhere in Zhejiang Province in the early 60 years of Ming Dynasty.However,starting from Zhengtong Age,Wenzhou’s position in Zhejiang Province dropped.It fell to the bottom till the end of Ming Dynasty.Few candidates could achieve the degree in provincial examinations should be the direct cause,even worse,their ranks went all the way down.On this basis,we thoroughly analyze the fall of Wenzhou in Ming Dynasty in imperial examinations in a comprehensive way in the article.