试论清代科举制的分区定额原则

On the Principle of Allocating Quota by Regions in the Imperial Examination in the Qing Dynasty

清代无论是学额还是乡、会试中额,均是以分区定额为基本配置原则。分区定额的基本依据,一般说来主要涉及文风、赋税以及人口三方面因素。其中,学额具体分配到不同府、县,乡试中额则基本上是以行省为单位进行配置。会试中额在清初经历了短暂的凭文录取,后经分卷制而最终发展到分省定额录取。基于此,清代科举考试的竞争方式基本上可以说是在坚持区域公平优先的基础上再进行自由竞争。探讨清代科举制分区定额原则,对当今高校招生名额的省际投放以及相关的区域公平问题,可以提供有益的历史参照。

In the Qing Dynasty, the imperial examination system allocates quota by regions on the basis of region＇s educational development level, taxes, and population. School enrollment quota is allocated to different prefectures and counties, and provincial examination quota is allocated to each province, and metropolitan examination presents a characteristics of free competition at the beginning stage, and then the central government allocates its quota to each province. Thus the imperial examination system in the Qing Dynasty gives priority to regional equity, and then, the secondary principle is free competition. To study the principle of allocating quota by regions in the imperial examination system in the Qing Dynasty may provide a useful historical reference for present quota allocation of college entrance examination between provinces and relevant regional equity problems.