严复与晚清留学生归国考试研究

A Research on Yan Fu and the Examination for the Returned Overseas Students in the Late Qing Dynasty

晚清学务处(学部)主持的留学毕业生考试(部试)共七届,严复作为襄校官,参加了第二届(1906年)、第三届(1907年)、第四届(1908年)学部考试,负责出题、阅卷事宜,并对归国留学生学位文凭等第作出评定。严复在第二届考试当中发挥了重要作用,为留学欧美的考生脱颖而出创造了好的应试条件,并在考试结束后就考取者的国文学习提出条陈。在第三届学部考试中,严复的作用仍然十分突出,然而严复对于担任襄校官先是推辞,参加过程中又多有抱怨。第四届学部考试中,严复的作用减小。由并无科举身份的严复作为襄校官参与考试,而使应试者获得相应功名出身,严复在其中所扮演的角色十分尴尬。1910年严复经举荐获得文科进士之后,这一矛盾得以全然化解,但严复已退出了襄校官之列。

There were seven examinations for returned overseas students held by Xuebu （the Ministry of Education） in the late Qing dynasty. As an assistant examiner, Yan Fu helped to hold three examinations from 1906 to 1908. He was respon- sible for making and marking the test papers, and assessing the academic diplomas of returned overseas students. He played an important role in the second examination, facilitating the performance of returned overseas students who used to study in Europe and the US. After the exam, he presented to the Qing government his suggestion for the examinees to learn Chinese literature. He still played a significant part in the third exam, though he first refused to work as an assistant exam- iner, and, after he agreed to work as assistant examiner, continued to show his disgruntlement. His influence in the fourth exam dropped, because not being an official promoted through the imperial examination, his role in the exam to promote of- ficials was embarrassing. After he was promoted as Jinshi （ imperial scholar）, the embarrassing problem was solved, but Yan Fu had quit his position as assistant examiner.