论真宗朝科举制度之演变

The Evolution of the System of Official Recruitment by Imperial Examination During the Reign of the Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty

宋代科举制度之最为重大的变革,就是彻底贯彻科场公平公正原则。这些重大变革,肇始于太宗朝,完成于真宗朝。首先,真宗朝省试年份依然变化不定,承继了太宗朝无规律的做法,大致向三年一科考制度过渡。真宗朝每次科举取士数虽然起伏不定,大致保持与太宗朝相当的水准。保障科场公平公正的重大举措,都是在真宗朝定型,一共有三项:弥封,誊录,编排。此外,还推出多项防止科举作弊的措施,与上述重大举措相辅相成。同时,宋人科举制度之变革,真宗朝到了阶段性总结的时候了,朝廷前后颁布了《考试进士程式》《礼部贡院条制》等规章制度。真宗朝大体上清除了科场盛行的舞弊作风,科举制度为朝廷选拔人才的意义至此才真正得以彰显。

The most important reform of the system of official recruitment by imperial examination in the Song Dynasty was to thoroughly implement the principle of fairness and justice in the examination practice. These major reforms were initiated during the reign of the Emperor Taizong(太宗), and completed during the reign of the Emperor Zhenzong(真宗). Firstly, following the irregular practice from the reign of the Emperor Taizong, in how many years would a metropolitan examination(省试) be held was still uncertain, but it was gradually set to be held once every three years. Though the enrollment number fluctuated in different examinations during the reign of the Emperor Zhenzong, it remained roughly at the same level as that during the reign of the Emperor Taizong. The major measures to ensure the fairness and justice in imperial examinations were all finalized during the reign of the Emperor Zhenzong. There were three steps: sealing(弥封), copying out(誊录) and laying out(编排). Besides, in order to prevent cheating and plagiarism, a number of new measures were introduced to complement with the above-mentioned major measures. Under the reign of the Emperor Zhenzong, the imperial court also promulgated detailed rules and regulations for imperial examination, such as the Procedures for the Metropolitan Examination(《考试进士程式》), and the Regulations for the Examination Office under the Ministry of Rites(《礼部贡院条制》). Thus, cheating and plagiarism which had been frequently seen in former imperial examinations were generally eradicated. The significance of the imperial examination system for selecting talents was then truly manifested.