宋代科举担保新论

New Perspectives on Imperial Examination Guarantee of Song Dynasty

宋代士人参加科举考试之前必须有保官或者保人为其相关情况做担保。应举者需要被担保的内容主要有籍贯、才学、品行、服纪、职业、年龄、举数等信息,具有担保资格的主要有一起参加考试的应举者、官员、书铺等。担保者必须严格审核应举者信息的真实性,确保其具备应举资格,如果考生出现违制行为,他们则要受到处罚。

The scholars of Song Dynasty were required to be guaranteed before sitting for an imperial examination. The guarantee included the origin of household registration, talent and learning, characters, mourning practice, occupation, age and numbers of the exams he/she has taken. People who has such a Guarantee are the other examinees, local officials, school officers, etc. They must strictly review the information of the examinees to ensure the authenticity and the qualification of on the part of the examinees. The guarantors will be punished in case of a breach of warranty on the part of guarantees.