南宋科场试策与士人的政治表达——以殿试对策为中心

The Imperial Examination Scheme of the Southern Song Dynasty and the Political Expression of Scholars:Centered on the Countermeasures in the Palace Examination

南宋遗存至今的殿试对策相当丰富,可以藉此考察士人如何通过此种方式来表示自己的政治见解以及成效如何。从士人阶层舆论方面来看,无论是已经入仕的官员,还是廷对士子本人,大都认为参加殿试是人生的一个重大时刻,应该在皇帝面前认真阐述自己的政治见解,同时作为今后的从政指南。而从当时殿试阅卷的程序来看,皇帝虽然表面上会摆出鼓励直言的姿态,但在多大程度上能够接受,却与皇帝自身政治意图能否实现有着微妙的关系;一般来说,殿试阅卷官保守、稳妥的判卷态度,实际上会直接影响直言的殿试对策能否送达御前。虽然殿试对策有着较为严格的文体规制,但是试图指陈时政缺失的廷对士子,却总是可以逾越这些限制,寻找到直言进谏的突破口。作为南宋政治的一个显著特征,权相长期掌控朝政确实在很大程度上制约了士人政治见解的表达,在秦桧、韩侂胄、史弥远、贾似道执政期间,那些涉及时政批判的殿试对策几乎很少见到或被保存下来。

There are many countermeasures in the Palace Examination of the Southern Song Dynasty remained up to now,and one can observe how the scholars at that time offered political opinions in this way and how were the effects through the documents.In terms of the consensus of scholars,whether the officials or candidates for the examination,mostly regarded taking the final imperial examination as a significant moment in their lives.They believed that with the opportunity,they should state one’s political opinion seriously before the emperor,and as their future political guidelines.Judging from the procedure for paper assessment,although the emperor would pose as encouraging blunt words seemingly,how far might the opinions be accepted was delicately related with whether the emperor’s political intention could be realized.Generally speaking,the conservative attitude of the Grand Minister Examiner would actually influence directly whether or not the blunt countermeasure could be sent to the emperor.Despite the strict style criterion of the examination,the outspoken candidates could always find the breakthrough to point out the current problems.As one distinguishing feature of the Southern Song politics,long-term administration of powerful prime ministers largely restricted the scholars to express their political opinions.During the administrations of Qin Hui,Han Tuozhou,Shi Miyuan,and Jia Sidao,the countermeasures in the Palace Examination involving criticism of current politics were rarely seen or preserved.