明代南直中卷与南卷地区科举实力的差异及其成因

Differences and Causes of the Imperial Examinations Strength in Middle and South District in Metropolitan Exams in the Ming Dynasty

在明代会试中,南直的凤阳、庐州、安庆三府和徐、滁、和三州被划归中卷地区,其余十一府一州则被划归南卷地区。明廷作如此划分的主要原因是两地区科举实力相差悬殊,其主要表现为南卷地区无论是进士、举人、解元和经魁的总数或县均数,皆远超中卷地区。造成这种差异的成因源于多个方面,首先,南卷地区拥有更加深厚的文化底蕴及浓厚的科举氛围是核心因素;其次,人口规模与经济实力上的巨大优势奠定了基础;最后,更为发达的家族组织及领先的印刷业是重要的推助力。

The Fengyang, Luzhou, Anqing three governments and Xu, Chu, and three states in Ming Dynasty south Zhili were classified as the middle district in metropolitan exams, the rest of eleven governments and one state were classified as the south district. The gap of imperial examinations strength between the two regions is largely affected by various factors such as the population, economy, cultural heritage and the imperial examination atmosphere, family organizations and the printing industry.