The imperial examinations in ancient my country were divided into two types: boy examination and main examination.
Let’s talk about the boy test first. The difference between the Ming Dynasty boy test and the Tang and Song Dynasty was that there was no age limit. Candidates regardless of age can take the Child Examination. The boy examination consists of three stages: county examination, government examination and college examination, with two examinations every three years. Chou, Wei, Chen and Xu years are Suikao; Yin, Shen, Ji and Hai years are Kekao.
County examination, an examination conducted by county magistrates in the Ming Dynasty. To obtain birth status (i.e. qualification), children should first take the county examination in their own county. The exam period is mostly in February. Register at the County Office’s Ceremony Room, fill in your name, place of origin, age, and resume of three generations, and obtain the County’s Life Insurance Certificate to ensure that the information you fill in is true. Participate in five exams, each of which tests eight-legged essays, poems, classics, rhymes, etc. Only after passing the exam can you be qualified to take the next level government exam, so the county exam is actually a qualification exam.
The date of the county examination is usually set in February. When entering the examination, candidates will receive test papers with numbers printed on them. They will be seated according to the number and will take four or five examinations. The first game is the main game. The second scene is the attack (or the first attack). The third game is a repeat. The fourth and fifth games were consecutive defeats. Each exam takes one day, and admission is by roll call before dawn. Papers must be submitted on the same day. Admission to the main venue will be lenient. For example, if there are 1,000 candidates, 700 people will be selected for the main examination, and 700 people will be admitted for the first review; and 500 will be selected for the first review, and the number will be reduced accordingly until the continuous review is completed, and there will not be many people left. After each exam, results must be released, which is called "distribution". In the first three or four exams, the candidates' names and numbers are written in a circle, which is called "round case", commonly known as "yuan", or "group". The ones ranked within 50 will be the first round. The circle is divided into two layers, the outer circle is 30 people, and the inner circle is 20 people. There are also 50 people ranked in a big circle regardless of inside or outside. Use a red pen to write the word "中" in the circle. The vertical part of this "中" character should also be written with the top long and the bottom short, just like the upper part of the word "gui", which means auspiciousness. The word "raise" written in the middle of the outer layer is the first place, and the other rankings are arranged in order from the left. Because the names of the candidates on the paper are sealed, and only the seat number can be written at the time of filing, the admitted candidates are called "out of the circle" or "out of the number." When the results are released for the last time, all the admitted candidates will be listed horizontally according to their rankings and will be reported by name, which is called "long list". The first place is called the county case leader.
In the Ming Dynasty, scholars admitted through the county examination had to take the next higher level examination, which was administered by the prefect or prefect. The examination period is mostly in April, and the registration and other procedures are slightly the same as those for the county examination. After admission, you can take the college examination again.
The Academy Examination was an examination conducted by the provincial academic administration (and Xuedai) in the Ming Dynasty. Scholars who have been admitted to the government examination can take the college examination. Since the academic administration is called the Admiral College, it is also called the college examination. The registration procedures are slightly the same as those for the prefectural and county examinations. After passing the examination, you can study in a prefectural school or a county school, which is called "enrollment." Only after confirming their status as students can they participate in the main examination of the province.
Let’s talk about the main test. Children's examination can only take part in the main examination after passing the college examination.
The main examination is divided into three stages: rural examination, general examination and palace examination.
The rural examination is the first level of the main examination. In the Ming Dynasty, examinations were held every three years in provincial capitals, and the examination room was called "Gongyuan". Anyone who has passed the Children's Examination in this province can take the examination. In the years of Zi, Wu, Mao and You, it is Zhengke. When the emperor ascends the throne and other celebrations, it is called "Enke". There are three exams, and those who pass the exam are called Juren. Because the examination period is in autumn, it is also called Qiu Wei or Autumn Examination. In addition, candidates from all counties and prefectures gathered in the provincial capital, and the imperial court sent officials to take the examination. Those who pass the examination will be selected as Juren. As everyone knows, Fan Jin won the imperial examination in "The Scholars" because he won this kind of examination.
The general examination is the second level of the main examination. In the Ming Dynasty, candidates from all provinces could participate in the examination held at the Ministry of Rites in the capital once every three years. Fengchen, Shu, Chou and Weinian are the main subjects. If there is Enke in the township examination, the joint examination will also be held in the following year, which is called the Enke examination. There are also three exams, and those who pass the exam are called Gongshi. Because the examination period is in spring, it is also called Chunwei or Spring Examination.
The palace examination is the third level of the main examination. The imperial examination system was an examination in which the emperor personally administered questions to the tributes in the palace. It began with Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty and continued throughout the subsequent dynasties. During the reign of Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty, the palace examination results were divided into three grades (i.e., levels). Each grade was limited to three people. This was followed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and was called Jinshi. The first place is the top pick, the second and third place are the second place and the top pick. There are several names in the second and third grades, collectively referred to as Jinshi.
In the main examination, the first place in the provincial examination is called "Jie Yuan", the first place in the general examination is called "Hui Yuan", and the first place in the imperial examination is called "Zhuang Yuan". Those who rank first in all three exams are called "Three Winners" in a row.
Juren during the Ming Dynasty were qualified to serve as low-level civil servants (officials). They were just qualified, and the possibility of actually holding the position was very small. Therefore, in the eyes of some people (those in high positions), they are almost worthless, but as long as they are elected, they can be on an equal footing with the government, they can supervise the government, they can report the government's complaints to the emperor, and they have the right to inspect. Juren is highly regarded by ordinary citizens. In the Ming Dynasty, civil servants enjoyed tax-free privileges, and many took the initiative to transfer their land and property to the gentry to avoid taxes and corvee. This was also a source of income for the gentry.
Generally speaking, in the Ming Dynasty, only after becoming a Jinshi did one become truly qualified to become an official. ;
