明代科举中的官年现象

The Phenomenon of “Making False Report of Age” in Ming Dynasty

在明代“进士登科录”、“进士同年录”、“进士履历便览”等科举文献中,皆存在程度不等的官年现象。嘉靖以后,这一现象逐渐变得普遍且近乎公开化,虚报年龄者越来越多,虚报的年岁越来越大,至明末而流于糜烂。这一现象的形成,一方面是继承了历史上的官年传统,另一方面又受嘉靖以后选拔翰林院庶吉士、科道官限年制度的直接影响。

The phenomenon of making false report of age had been in existence more than one thousand years since Song Dynasty at least. It became very popular in Ming Dynasty, especially in the years of Wan-li, Tian-qi and Chong-zhen reigns of Ming Dynasty. It became very harmful to society just because the age of jin-shi were constrained when people wanted to be selected for many better official positions by examinations.