“杏园探花宴”探赜

The Probing About Looking For Flowers Feast in Apricot Garden

唐代及第进士参加吏部的关试后,要进行许多次的宴集,这许多次的宴集总称"关宴",杏园探花宴是其中的重要活动之一。学界对杏园探花宴宴集过程的论述,或不够详尽,或认为新科进士中除了两名探花使外,其他人是不去采花的,他们只是在杏园等待探花使者的归来,观赏采来的奇花异葩。本文结合唐代探春赏花习俗,证之以史,求之以情,认为"探花宴"的探花活动是全体及第进士的活动,它的本质是带有狂欢性的赏花活动。"探花使"的设置是为了增加这一活动的趣味性、娱乐性。它的过程是由杏园出发,两位"少俊""探花使"先行,其他及第进士紧随其后,驱马竞奔,遍游长安名园,所到之处,折得名贵花卉,最后返回杏园,检点所折花卉,若有比"探花使"早折回者,"探花使"即受罚,同时开宴狂欢,不醉无归。

In Tang Dynasty, scholars who passed the examination would have many feasts called admitted feasts. Looking for flowers feast in apricot garden is one of the most important activities. This paper combines the custom of finding and enjoying flowers in Tang Dynasty, and proves that the design of Tanhua is to make the activity more interesting and entertaining.