论唐宋时期的乡贡取士

On Selecting Scholars from Grass Roots in the Tang-Song Period

乡贡取士是科举取士的重要途径之一。作为一种从社会下层选拔人才的制度,它与西周时的乡举里选、汉代的察举制具有深厚的渊源关系;宋代的乡贡取士在唐代的基础上进一步发展,由一种类型逐渐演变为一种层次;这种发展不仅改变了当时士大夫阶层的结构构成,使其出现平民化特征,而且直接影响了士大夫阶层的整体素质。

Selecting scholars from grass roots is an important approach in the Imperial Examination. As a system of selecting talents from lower classes, it is deeply related to the local recommendation and examination in West Zhou and Han period. The selecting system in Song Dynasty develops on the basis of that in Tang Dynasty into a higher level. The progress has not only changed the composition of scholar-officials with more common people, but also has a direct effect on the overall quality of the scholar-official class at that time.