西夏试经补议

A Supplementary Discussion on Buddhist Examination in Xixia

西夏法典的有关条款表明,西夏借鉴了中原的试经度僧制度并进行了适当的简化。这种简化与科举制度的简化相适应,都是西夏建国之初党项民族独立心态的反映。西夏政府虽然为不同民族的出家申请人规定了不尽相同的试经内容,但并没有本质的区别。政府允许申请人在应试时自主选择使用党项语和汉语,这可以视为适应本地多民族的具体情况所做出的创新。

Relevant items of the Tangut code indicate that Xixia imitated and appropriately simplified the institution for Buddhist qualifying examination in the Central Kingdom.Fitting in the simplification of the imperial examination system,this fact reflected the Tanguts’mindset of national independence at the beginning of their state foundation.Although the Xixia government provided different contents for Buddhist applicants from different ethnic groups,there are no essential differences between them.The fact that the government allowed the applicants to choose either Chinese or Tangut language in the examination may be regarded as an innovation suitable for the local multinational environment.