隋唐时期武举制度对武术发展的影响

Influence of Imperial Martial Examination System in Sui and Tang Dynasties on Wushu Development

武举,堪称武科,始于唐武则天二年,废于清末光绪二十七年,在中国历史上存活了1200余年。作为我国封建社会选拔武艺人才的主要方式之一,对我国武术运动的发展产生过相当深远的影响。从隋朝禁武到出现非正式的选拔武备人才制度。形成于唐的武举制,完备于宋,发展于明,衰亡于清。完善了"文武兼备"的人才选拔标准。但随着拥有"坚船利炮"的西方殖民者的相继入侵,传统的武举显然已经不再适合现代战争的需要,武举的存废也在朝中引起了激烈的争论,最终在清亡前夕被彻底废止。武举制对武术的发展也产生了积极的影响,但同时由于武举制度自身存在的局限性,在一定程度上又制约了我国武术的发展,延缓了武术发展的步伐,因此,我们要抛其糟粕,取其精华,从不同层面了解隋唐时期武举制度对武术发展的影响,为今后武术发展提供一些参考。

Wuju (or wuke) system, which means the imperial martial examination and candidate system, began in the 2nd year of Emperor Wuzetian (about 691) of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was abandoned in the 27th year of Emperor Guangxu (1902) at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with an existence of more than 1200 years in the Chinese history.As one of the main ways to select wushu (martial arts) talents in China's feudal society, it has made a considerably far-reaching influence on the development of wushu sport in our country.Wushu had been forbidden in the Sui Dynasty (581-619) before an informal system for the selection and reservation of wushu talents appeared later.Wuju system was formed in the Tang dynasty, completed in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), developed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and declined and fell in the Qing Dynasty.Therefore, wuju system perfected the criteria of selecting talents who were accomplished with both the pen and the sword.However, with successive invasions of Western colonists who owned advanced ships and guns, the traditional wuju system could not meet the needs of modern wars any more.In this case, a fierce argument on whether wuju system should be retained or abandoned was aroused at the imperial court.Finally, it was totally abolished before the ending of the Qing Dynasty.Wuju system produced positive effects on the development of wushu.At the same time, however, it also hindered its development to some extent due to its limitations and deferred its pace.Therefore, we should absorb the essence and discard the dregs of wuju system and learn its influence in the Sui and Tang Dynasties on the development of wushu from different perspectives so as to provide some reference for the development of wushu in the future.