贾雨村初任知县擢升知府继被参革稽考

Explorations on Jia Yucun’s Official Experience

贾雨村第一次被革职前所任官位有两种说法:一种是中进士后当了知县,不上一年被罢官;另一种是中进士后径任知府,不上一年被罢官。细读原著,这两种说法使得文本中不少情节均发生牴牾,因而都是错误的。其实情是:中进士后选入外班先当3年多知县,然后擢升知府,在知府任上不到一年被参革下去的。前后任官凡5年,而被一些研究者一律压并为不到1年。此项牵涉到贾府及诸多人物、事件的发展空间无法链接,甚至被误读为作者未及审改的舛错和败笔,很有辨析清楚的必要。

There are two statements about Jia Yucun’s official position before he was dismissed from office. One says he worked as a county magistrate after passing the highest imperial examinations, and was removed from office in less than one year. The other says he was directly promoted to be a prefect after passing the highest imperial examinations, and was dismissed when he was in office in less than one year. Both statements are wrong after we read the original work closely. In the author’s opinion, after passing the highest imperial examinations he was a county magistrate for more than three years, then was promoted to be a prefect for no more than one year, and later was dismissed from office. From the beginning to the end he was in office for five years. Some researchers believe it is one year by mistake. This point is connected with the development of Jia family, a great deal of personage and many incidents. Some people wrongly think Cao Xueqin, the author of the story, made a mistake. Therefore, it is necessary to correct it.