从南北卷到南北中卷——明洪熙、宣德间会试分区配额政策之演变

明初会试取士不分南北,凭文而取,中试者中南人比例往往远超北人。仁宗即位后,有意革除科举之弊,包括南北人才悬殊问题。为此,阁臣杨士奇从制度设计入手,提出分区而取的南北卷方案。该方案得到允准,成为明代首个分区配额政策。后因虑及四川等地举人不能'概以南省并校',又立中卷区,南北卷被调整为南北中卷。然而史籍对其调整的时间及南北卷是否行用,说法不一。通过对宣德至正统初年会试相关科次各卷区录取情况的考察,大体可以推知,这一政策调整当于宣德二年会试之前完成,并于该科付诸实施。即是说,就明代会试分区配额政策而言,经历了由南北卷到南北中卷的演变,但在实践层面,南北卷可能未曾行用,南北中卷当是实践层面的唯一制度内容。

A dipole wind curl pattern induced by Taiwan Island and its effect on upper stratification in the northeastern South China Sea

Using hydrographic data sampled during four successive late summer-early autumn cruises in 2004-2007, vertical stratification along transects in the lee of Taiwan Island was analyzed to investigate upper ocean responses to orographically induced dipole wind stress curl (WSC). Results indicate that mixed-layer depth (MLD) and its relationship with thermocline depth varied under different local wind forcings. Average MLD along the transects from the 2004 to 2007 cruises were 18.5,30.7,39.2 and 24.5m, respectively. The MLD along the transects deepened remarkably and resulted in thermocline ventilation in 2005 and 2006, whereas ventilation did not occur in 2004 and 2007. Estimates indicate that frictional wind speed was the major factor in MLD variations. To a large degree, the combined effects of frictional wind speed and Ekman pumping are responsible for the spatial pattern of MLD during the cruises.

明代会试分区配额制考察

明代会试分区配额制的最初设想是将全国分为南、北二区,试卷外分注"南"北"二字,若科取百人,南取六十,北取四十。后虑及四川等地举人不能"概以南省并校",又立中卷区。通过对宣德至正统间连续5科会试各区录取人数和所占比例的测算得知,这一调整当于宣德二年会试之前完成,并于该科付诸实施。就该制执行情况看,宣德二年至景泰五年,南北中卷区录取比例接近于60:30:10。至天顺朝,逐渐趋近于55:35:10的比例。总体而言,三卷区录取人数同时合乎规定比例的科次较少,某区稍高或稍低的波动情况则为常态。该制通过分区和分配比例的办法,将会试的全国性竞争转化为有限区域内的竞争,体现了明廷就地取才、追求区域平衡的意图。然分区配额制下的省区进士数量深受该制调控的影响,如四川中式人数的激增便是该制保护的结果,而这又成为成化年间卷区比例调整与正德年间卷区重组的诱因。