武则天与进士科关系考辨——从武则天人才理想的角度

On Relationship Between Wu Zetian and the Highest Imperial Examination——From Perspective of Wu Zetian′s Talent Ideal

武则天的人才理想是文学与政事兼重,以政事为本。她对进士科最重要的改革是加试杂文,这体现了她夺权期间的最高人才理想,从而反映出她对进士科的厚望。但改革使得进士科更加偏重文学才能,而新政权又急需吏干人才,因而改制前后武则天废止了杂文。即便如此,仍难以快速选拔出理想的政治人才,武则天于是在用人上发生了较大转变,对进士科的期待大不如前。因此,武则天对进士科的态度不能简单地言"重"或"不重",而是根据现实需要呈现出阶段性特点。

Wu Zetian′s ideal of talent is a combination of literature and political ability,while the latter is more important.The core change is to add the exam of "essays" in the Chin-shih examination(the highest imperial examination),reflecting the highest talent ideal of Wu Zetian during her seizure power period and her great hope for the examination.But the reform makes the highest imperial examination pay more attention to the literary talents,whereas the new regime needs urgently the official personnel,therefore Wu Zetian abolished the essay before or after the restructuring.Even so,it is difficult to quickly select the ideal political talents,and Wu Zetian changed greatly in the use of officials,as well as lowered the expectation for the Chin-shih Examination.Overall,the attitude of Wu Zetian to the highest imperial examination can not be simply summarized as " attaching importance to" or "neglecting".Instead,it shows stage characteristics based on practical needs.