明代科举考试中的二三场

The Second and Third Rounds of the Imperial Examination in the Ming Dynasty

北宋更定取士之法,以经义、论策取士。明代科举取法宋代,尤以经义为重,导致二三场之学逐渐衰落。明中期开始,由于国家社会的变革,经义取士已经难以满足国家发展的需要,论策关乎时政,能体现士子的政务处理能力,得到了朝廷的重视。嘉靖末期开始,二三场的地位得到显著提升。朝廷令乡、会试考官在取士时偏向后场,并且改革阅卷制度,实施分房互校。主管各省直学政的提学官也在童试、岁考和科考等基层科举考试中,提升后场的地位,培养生员的二三场写作能力。在国家与提学官的双重改革下,论策已经成为阅卷官取士的重要依据。从明中后期以来朝廷对二三场地位的重视来看,康熙时期罢试经义,专以论策取士,并不是偶然现象。经义、论策地位的此消彼长,体现了科举制度与国家社会之间的紧密联系。

The Northern Song reformed the Imperial Examination system,and selected scholars based on Confucian-classics and political discussions(Lunce).The Imperial Examination in the early Ming Dynasty inherited from the Song and focused more on classics,which caused the decline of Lunce,the second and third rounds of the examination.After the mid-Ming period,testing merely Confucian-classics was difficult to meet the needs of the state.Lunce,which was closely related to current politics and reflected the ability of scholars to handle government affairs,became highly valued by the court.After the Jiajing period,the status of Lunce was significantly improved.The court ordered the examiners to pay attention to Lunce.Superintendent of Training(tixue)enhanced the position of Lunce in the Imperial Examination.Therefore,Lunce became vital for examiners to select candidates.It was not accidental that during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty,the court canceled the examination on classics.The rise and fall of Confucian-classics and Lunce tests indicated the close connection between the Imperial Examination and state.