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選舉誌
Treatise on Selection and Examination
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按《唐典》，凡選授之制，天官卿掌之，所以正權衡而進賢能也； 凡貢舉之政，春官卿掌之，所以核文行而第雋秀也。 洎梁氏以降，皆奉而行之，縱或小有厘革，亦不出其軌轍。 今采其事。 備紀於後，以誌五代審官取士之方也。
According to the Tang Code, all rules governing appointment and selection fell to the Minister of the Office of Heaven, whose charge was to weigh merit fairly and advance the worthy and capable; all policies for the tribute examinations belonged to the Minister of the Office of Spring, who verified candidates' literary conduct and ranked the outstanding among them. From the Liang dynasty onward, each regime followed and enforced these rules; even minor revisions never departed from the same basic framework. Here we gather the relevant records. They are set down below to record how the Five Dynasties examined officials and recruited talent.
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梁開平元年七月，敕：「近年舉人，當秋薦之時，不親試者號為『拔解』，今後宜止絕。」 四月，兵部尚書、權知貢舉姚洎奏：「近代設文科、選胄子，所以綱維名教，崇樹邦本也。 今在朝公卿親屬、將相子孫，有文行可取者，請許所在州府薦送，以廣疏材之路。」 從之。 〈（《文獻通考》：唐時知貢舉皆用禮部侍郎，梁開平中，始命兵部侍郎楊涉權知貢舉。）〉
In the seventh month of Kaiping 1 of Liang, an edict declared: "In recent years, candidates recommended in autumn who skipped the trial examination were called 'pulling the recommendation'; this practice must cease." In the fourth month, Yao Ji, Minister of War and acting supervisor of the examinations, submitted: "The literary examination and selection of imperial scions were established in recent times to uphold the teachings and strengthen the foundation of the state. Among the kin of court officials and the descendants of generals and ministers, any who show genuine literary merit should be allowed to be recommended and sent forward by their local prefecture or district, so that the path for discovering talent may be widened." The request was approved. (Wenxian Tongkao notes: In Tang, supervisors of the examinations were always Vice Ministers of Rites; under Liang in the Kaiping era, Vice Minister of War Yang She was for the first time appointed acting supervisor.))〉
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唐同光二年十月，中書奏，請停舉選一年。 敕：「舉、選二門，國朝之重事，但要精確，難議權停，宜準常例處分。」
In the tenth month of Tongguang 2 of Tang, the Secretariat asked to suspend examinations and selections for one year. An edict replied: "Examinations and selections are weighty affairs of the dynasty and demand precision; a temporary halt is hard to justify. Handle them according to the usual rules."
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晉天福三年三月，翰林學士承旨、兵部侍郎、權知貢舉崔棁奏：「臣謬蒙眷渥，叨掌文衡，實憂庸懦之材，不副搜羅之旨，敢不揣摩頑鈍，杜絕阿私，上則顯陛下求賢，次則使平人得路。 但以今年就舉，比常歲倍多，科目之中，兇豪甚眾。 每駁榜出後，則時有喧張，不自省循，但言屈塞，互相朋扇，各出言詞，或云主司不公，或云試官受賂，實慮上達聖聽，微臣無以自明，晝省夜思，臨深履薄。 今臣欲請令舉人落第之後，或不甘心，任自投狀披陳，卻請所試，與疏義對證，兼令其日一甲同共校量，若獨委試官，恐未息詞理。 儻是實負抑屈，則所司固難逭憲章； 如其妄有陳論，則舉人乞痛加懲斷。 冀此際免虛遭謗議，亦將來可久遠施行。 儻蒙聖造允俞，伏乞降敕處分。」 從之。
In the third month of Tianfu 3 of Jin, Cui Zhuang, Academician Expositor-in-Chief, Vice Minister of War, and acting supervisor of the examinations, wrote: "I have been favored beyond my deserts and now hold the literary scales in my hands. I fear that mediocre talent will fail Your Majesty's purpose of gathering the worthy, and I dare not fail to scrutinize the dull and shut out favoritism—first to show that Your Majesty truly seeks talent, and second so that ordinary men may still find a way forward. Yet this year's examinees are more than double the usual number, and among them are many violent and overbearing men. Whenever the rejection list is posted, uproar follows at once. The failed candidates do not reflect on themselves but claim they were unfairly blocked; they incite one another and accuse the chief examiner of bias or the testing officials of taking bribes. I fear these charges will reach Your Majesty's ear, and I have no way to clear myself—by day I brood, by night I worry, as if standing at a cliff's edge on thin ice. I therefore ask that any candidate who fails and refuses to accept the result be allowed to file a petition, have his examination papers compared with the official commentary, and have the whole cohort of that day review the case together. If review is left to the testing officials alone, I fear the quarrels will never end. If a candidate was truly wronged, the responsible office cannot escape punishment under the statutes; but if he lodges a false complaint, let the candidate be severely punished. I hope thereby to escape groundless slander for now and to establish a rule that may endure. If Your Majesty approves, I humbly ask that an edict be issued to put this into effect." The memorial was approved.
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天福五年三月，詔：「及第舉人與主司選勝筵宴，及中書舍人靸鞋接見舉人，兼兵部、禮部引人過堂之日，幕次酒食會客，悉宜廢之。」 四月，禮部侍郎張允奏曰：「明君側席，雖切旁求； 貢士觀光，豈宜濫進。 竊窺前代，未設諸科，始以明經，俾升高第。 自有《九經》、《五經》之後，及《三禮》、《三傳》已來，孝廉之科，遂因循而不廢，搢紳之士，亦緘默而無言，以至相承，未能改作。 每歲明經一科，少至五百以上，多及一千有餘，舉人如是繁多，試官豈能精當？ 況此等多不究義，惟攻帖書，文理既不甚通，名第豈可妄與！ 且常年登科者不少，相次赴選者甚多，州縣之間，必無遣闕，輦轂之下，須有稽留，怨嗟自此而興，謗讟因茲而起。 但今廣場大啟，諸科並存，明經者悉包於《九經》、《五經》之中，無出於《三禮》、《三傳》之內，若夫厘革，恐未便宜，其明經一科，伏請停廢。」 又奏：「國家懸科待士，貴務搜揚； 責實求才，須除訛濫。 童子每當就試，止在念書，背經則雖似精詳，對卷則不能讀誦。 及名成貢部，身返故鄉，但克日以取官，更無心而習業，濫蠲徭役，虛占官名，其童子一科，亦請停廢。」 敕明經、童子、宏詞、拔萃、明算、道舉、百篇等科並停。
In the third month of Tianfu 5, an edict ordered the abolition of victory banquets held by successful candidates and the chief examiner, of Secretariat drafters receiving candidates in informal dress, and of tent-side feasts on the days when the Ministries of War and Rites led candidates through the examination hall." In the fourth month, Zhang Yun, Vice Minister of Rites, wrote: "An enlightened ruler may sit alert and search widely for talent; yet candidates coming to court should not be admitted indiscriminately. Looking back at earlier ages, the state did not yet maintain so many examination categories; it began with the Classics examination to raise men to higher office. After the Nine Classics, Five Classics, Three Rites, and Three Commentaries were established, the Filial and Incorrupt category was simply carried on without abolition, and the gentry kept silent until the practice hardened into custom and could no longer be changed. Each year the Classics examination alone drew at least five hundred candidates and often more than a thousand. With so many examinees, how could the testing officials judge them with precision? Moreover, most of them do not study meaning but only drill memorized passages; their literary grasp is shallow, and ranks must not be granted rashly! Every year many pass the examinations and many more queue for appointment; the provinces may have no vacancies, yet under the capital appointments pile up, breeding resentment and slander. Now that the examination field is broad and many categories coexist, Classics candidates are already covered by the Nine Classics, Five Classics, Three Rites, and Three Commentaries; further revision may be inconvenient. I humbly ask that the Classics examination alone be abolished." He also wrote: "The state maintains examinations to recruit scholars and values discovering talent; but in seeking real ability it must eliminate fraud and excess. Youth candidates, when examined, merely memorize texts; they may recite classics with apparent precision yet cannot read the scroll aloud when tested. Once they pass and return home, they fix a date to take office and study no further, enjoying corvée exemptions while occupying offices in name only. I ask that the Youth examination also be abolished." An edict suspended the Classics, Youth, Hongci, Bacui, Mathematics, Daoist recommendation, Hundred Pieces, and related examinations.
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天福七年五月，敕：「應諸色進策人等，皆抱材能，方來投獻，宜加明試，俾盡臧謀。 起今後應進策條，中書奏覆，敕下，其進策人委門下省試策三道，仍定上、中、下三等。 如是元進策內有施行者，其所試策或上或中者，委門下省給與減選，或出身優牒合格。 參選日，其試策上者，委銓司超壹資註擬； 其試策中者，委銓司依資註擬。 如是所試策或上或中，元進策條並不施行； 所試策下，元進策條內有施行者，其本官並仰量與恩賜發遣。 若或所試策下，所進策條並不施行，便仰曉示發遣，不得再有投進。 餘並準前後敕文處分。」
In the fifth month of Tianfu 7, an edict declared that all who submitted policy proposals, having come forward with talent, should undergo clear testing so that their counsel might be fully judged. Henceforth, after the Secretariat reviews a submitted policy item and an edict is issued, the submitter shall take three policy examinations at the Gate Department, graded upper, middle, or lower. If items in the original submission were adopted and the examination is graded upper or middle, the Gate Department shall grant a reduced selection cycle or a superior qualification certificate. On entering selection, if the examination is upper, the Selection Office shall register the appointee one rank above qualification; if middle, the Selection Office shall register according to qualification. If the examination is upper or middle but none of the original policy items were adopted; if the examination is lower but some original items were adopted, they shall retain their current office and receive an appropriate reward before dismissal. If the examination is lower and no submitted item was adopted, they shall be informed and dismissed and may not submit again. All other cases shall follow previous edicts."
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開運元年八月，詔曰：「明經、童子之科，前代所設，蓋期取士，良謂通規。 爰自近年，暫從停廢，損益之機未見，牢籠之義全虧。 將闡斯文，宜依舊貫，庶臻至理，用廣旁求。 其明經、童子二科，今後復置。」 十一月，工部尚書、權知貢舉竇貞固奏：「進士考試雜文及與諸科舉人入策，歷代已來，皆以三條燭盡為限，長興二年，改令晝試。 伏以懸科取士，有國常規，沿革之道雖殊，公共之情難失。 若使就試兩廊之下，揮亳短景之中，視晷刻而惟畏稽遲，演詞藻而難求妍麗，未見觀光之美，但同款答之由，既非師古之規，恐失取人之道。 今欲考試之時，準舊例以三條燭為限。 其進士並諸色舉貢人等，有懷藏書冊入院者，舊例扶出，不令就試，近年以來，雖見懷藏，多是容縱。 今欲振舉弛紊，明辨臧否，冀在必行，庶為定式。」
In the eighth month of Kaiyun 1, an edict declared: "The Classics and Youth examinations were established by earlier dynasties to recruit scholars and formed a sound customary rule. In recent years they were temporarily suspended before the gains and losses could be judged, and the purpose of gathering talent was lost. To advance learning, the old practice should be restored so that principle may be attained and the search for talent broadened. The Classics and Youth examinations are hereby restored." In the eleventh month, Dou Zhengu, Minister of Works and acting supervisor of the examinations, wrote: "For jinshi literary examinations and policy tests with candidates of other categories, successive dynasties set the limit at three candles; in Changxing 2 this was changed to daytime testing. Examinations to recruit scholars are a constant state institution; though customs change over time, the public expectation behind them should not be cast aside. Testing candidates in the corridors by daylight, they watch the clock in fear of delay and cannot polish their prose; one sees perfunctory answers, not brilliance. This follows neither ancient practice nor, I fear, the proper way to choose talent. I ask that examinations again follow the old rule of three candles. Jinshi and other candidates who enter with concealed books were once escorted out and barred from testing; in recent years such cases have usually been tolerated. I ask that lax enforcement be corrected, right and wrong clearly distinguished, and the old rules strictly restored as fixed practice."
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漢乾祐二年，刑部侍郎邊歸讜上言：「臣竊見每年貢舉人數甚眾，動引五舉、六舉，多至二千、三千，既事業不精，即人文何取。 請敕三京、鄴都、諸道州府長官，合發諸色貢舉人文解者，並須精加考校，事業精研，即得解送，不得濫有舉送，冀塞濫進之門，開興能之路。」 敕從之。 其間條奏未盡處，下貢院錄天福五年四月二十七日敕文，告諭天下，依元敕條件施行，如有固違，其隨處考試官員，當準敕條處分。
In Qianyou 2 of Han, Bian Guidan, Vice Minister of Punishments, wrote: "Each year the tribute examinations draw huge numbers of candidates, many with five or six attempts and totals of two or three thousand. If their learning is shallow, what literary merit can be found in them? I ask that chiefs of the Three Capitals, Yedu, and all circuits examine every candidate carefully and send forward only those of real attainment, so that the gate to reckless advancement may be closed and the path for the capable opened." The edict approved. On points not fully covered above, the examination yard was sent the edict of Tianfu 5, fourth month, day 27, to announce throughout the realm; local testing officials who stubbornly violate it shall be punished under the edict.
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周廣順二年二月，禮部侍郎趙上交奏：「貢院諸科，今欲不試泛義，其口義五十道，改試墨義十道。」 從之。 三年正月，趙上交奏：「進士元試詩賦各一首，帖經二十帖、對義五通，今欲罷帖經、對義，別試雜文二首、試策一道。」 從之。 其年八月，刑部侍郎、權知貢舉徐臺符奏：「請別試雜文外，其帖經、墨義，仍依元格。」 從之。
In the second month of Guangshun 2 of Zhou, Zhao Shangjiao, Vice Minister of Rites, asked that all examination categories drop general-meaning tests and replace fifty oral questions with ten written ones." Approved. In the first month of year 3, Zhao Shangjiao asked that jinshi candidates no longer take classic paste and meaning-response tests but instead submit two literary pieces and one policy essay." Approved. In the eighth month of that year, Xu Taifu, Vice Minister of Punishments and acting supervisor of the examinations, asked that aside from the new literary tests, paste classics and ink meaning remain under the original rules." Approved.
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顯德二年三月，禮部侍郎竇儀奏：「請諸科舉人，若合解不解、不合解而解者，監試官為首罪，勒停見任，舉送長官，奏聞取裁。 監試官如受賂，及今後進士，如有倩人述作文字應舉者，許人言告，送本處色役，永不進仕。」
In the third month of Xiande 2, Dou Yi, Vice Minister of Rites, asked that when candidates who should qualify do not, or unqualified candidates do, the supervising examiner bear primary guilt and be removed from office while the recommending chief is reported for decision. If supervising examiners take bribes, or if any future jinshi candidate has another compose his examination papers, informants may report them; offenders shall be sent to local corvée service and barred forever from office."
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唐同光四年三月，中書門下奏議：「左拾遺王松、吏部員外郎李慎儀上疏，以諸道州縣，皆是攝官，誅剝生靈，漸不存濟。 比者郭崇韜在中書日，未詳本朝故事，妄被閑人獻疑，點檢選曹，曲生異議，或告赤欠少，一事闕違，保內一人不來，五保即須並廢，文書一紙有誤，數任皆不勘詳。 其年選人及行事官一千二百五十餘員，得官者才及數十，皆以渝濫為名，盡被焚毀棄逐，或斃踣於旅店，或號哭於道途。 以至二年已來，選人不敢赴集，銓曹無人可註，中書無人可除，去年闕近二千，授官不及六十。 伏請特降敕文，宣布遐邇，明往年制置，不自於宸衷，此日焦勞，特頒於睿澤。 望以中書條件及王松等所論事節，委銓司點檢，務在酌中，以為定制。」 從之。 時議者以銓註之弊，非止一朝，搢紳之家，自無甄別，或有伯叔告赤，鬻於同姓之家，隨賂改更，因亂昭穆，至有季父伯舅反拜侄甥者。 郭崇韜疾惡太深，奏請厘革，豆盧革、韋說僶俛贊成。 或有親舊訊其事端者，韋說曰：「此郭漢子之意也。」 及崇韜誅，革說即教門人王松上疏奏論，故有此奏。 識者非之。
In the third month of Tongguang 4 of Tang, the Secretariat reported: "Left Remonstrance Councillor Wang Song and Vice Director of Personnel Li Shenyi wrote that circuit prefectures and districts are filled with acting officials who extort the people until livelihoods collapse. When Guo Chongtao served in the Secretariat, ignorant of court precedent, idle advisers led him to scrutinize the Selection Bureau with perverse strictness: a short household register, one lapse, or one missing guarantor could void an entire five-household group; one document error could invalidate several terms of service. That year more than 1,250 candidates and traveling officials sought appointment, yet only a few dozen received office; the rest were branded as fraudulent, their credentials destroyed, and they were driven away—some dying at inns, others wailing along the roads. For two years candidates dared not come to assembly; the Selection Bureau had no one to register and the Secretariat no one to appoint. Last year nearly two thousand posts stood vacant while fewer than sixty appointments were made. I humbly ask that a special edict announce to the realm that last year's measures did not come from Your Majesty's heart and that today's gracious labor now offers renewed imperial favor. I ask that the Secretariat's conditions and the points raised by Wang Song and others be entrusted to the Selection Office for review, with moderation as the fixed rule." Approved. Contemporaries held that abuses in selection registration were longstanding: gentry families made no distinctions, selling uncles' household registers to kinsmen of the same surname and altering them by bribe until lineages were confused—even to the point of uncles bowing to nephews. Guo Chongtao's zeal against corruption ran too deep; he memorialized for reform, and Doulu Ge and Wei Yue bowed and approved. When relatives and friends asked about the matter, Wei Yue said, "This was that Guo fellow's idea." After Chongtao was executed, Ge and Yue had their student Wang Song submit the memorial above, which produced this report. Men of judgment condemned them.
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天成四年冬十月丙申，詔曰：「本朝一統之時，除嶺南、黔中去京地遠，三年一降選補使，號為南選外，其餘諸道及京百司諸色選人，每年動及數千，分為三選，尚為繁重。 近代選人，每年不過數百，何必以一司公事，作三處官方。 況有格條，各依資考，兼又明行敕命，務絕阿私，宜新公共之規，俾慎官常之要。 其諸道選人，宜令三銓官員，都在省署子細磨勘，無違礙後，即據格同商量註擬，連署申奏，仍不得踵前於私第註官，如此則人吏易可整齊，公事亦無遲滯。」
On bingshen in the tenth month, winter, of Tiancheng 4, an edict declared: "When the dynasty was unified, apart from distant Lingnan and Qianzhong, where a Southern Selection commissioner came every three years, candidates from the circuits and capital offices numbered thousands each year and were divided among three selection boards—still a heavy burden. Today candidates number only a few hundred each year; why should one office's business require three separate boards? Statutes already govern qualification and review, and edicts clearly forbid favoritism; a renewed public rule should make officials more careful in their duties. Circuit candidates should be examined together in the capital by all three selection officials; after review, appointments shall be registered jointly according to statute and memorialized together, without repeating the old practice of registering offices at private residences—so that personnel may be kept in order and public business not delayed."
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長興元年三月，敕：「凡是選人，皆有資考，每至赴調，必驗文書，或不具全，多稱失墜，將明本末，須示規程。 其判成諸色選人，黃甲下後，將歷任文書告赤連粘，宜令南曹逐縫使印，都於後面粘紙，其前後歷任文書，都計多少紙數，仍具年月日，判成授某官。」 蓋懼其或分假於人故也。 其年十月，中書奏：「吏部流內銓諸色選人，先條流試判兩節，並委本官優劣等第申奏。 文優者宜超一資註擬，其次者宜依資，更次者以同類官註擬，所以勵援毫之作，亦不掩歷任之勞。 其或於理道全疏者，以人戶少處州縣同類官中比擬，仍準元敕，業文者任征引古今，不業文者但據公理判斷可否。 不當，罪在有司。 兼諸色選人，或有元通家狀，不實鄉里名號，將來赴選者，並令改正，一一堅本貫屬鄉縣，兼無出身，一奏一除官等，宜並不加選限。」 從之。
In the third month of Changxing 1, an edict declared: "All candidates have qualification records that must be verified at assignment; when documents are incomplete many claim loss. To clarify the facts, regulations must be set forth. For candidates whose appointments are finalized, after the yellow roster is issued their service documents and household registers shall be joined and stamped seam by seam by the Southern Bureau, with a backing sheet noting the total number of sheets, dates, and the office granted." This was lest the documents be lent to others. In the tenth month of that year, the Secretariat wrote: "For candidates in the Ministry of Personnel's Flow-Within Selection, the prior rule required two trial judgments, with the original office reporting grades of superior or inferior merit. Those superior in writing should be registered one rank above qualification, the next according to qualification, and the lowest in offices of the same category—encouraging literary effort without obscuring past service. Those wholly deficient in principle may be compared with similar offices in thinly populated districts, still under the original edict: the literate may cite ancient and modern examples, the non-literate need judge only by reason. If the judgment is improper, the responsible office bears guilt. Candidates with lax family statements or false local designations must correct them and fix their native districts; those without initial credentials or appointed by single memorial should not face added selection limits." Approved.
15
應順元年閏正月丁卯，中書門下奏：「準天成二年十二月敕，長定格應經學出身人，一任三考，許入下縣令、下州錄事參軍，亦入中下州錄事參軍； 兩任四考，許入中下縣令、中州錄事參軍； 兩任六考，許入上縣令及緊州錄事參軍。 凡為進取，皆有因依，或少年便受好官，或暮齒不離卑任。 況孤貧舉士，或年四十，始得經學及第，八年合選，方受一官，在任多不成三考，第二選漸向蹉跎，有一生終不至令錄者，若無改革，何以發揚？ 自此經學出身，請一任兩考，許入中下縣令、下州錄事參軍者。」 詔曰：「參選之徒，艱辛不一，發身遲滯，到老卑低，宜優未達之人，顯示惟新之澤。 其經學出身，一任兩考，元敕入下縣令、下州錄事參軍，起今後更許入中下縣令、下州錄事參軍； 一任三考者，於人戶多處州縣註擬，如於近敕條內，資敘無相當者，即準格循資考入官； 其兩任四考者，準二任五考例入官，餘準格條處分。」
On dingmao in the intercalary first month of Yingshun 1, the Secretariat wrote: "Under the edict of Tiancheng 2, twelfth month, the standing rule for Classics graduates is: after one term and three evaluations they may become magistrate of a lower county or registrar of a lower or middle-lower prefecture; after two terms and four evaluations, magistrate of a middle-lower county or registrar of a middle prefecture; after two terms and six evaluations, magistrate of an upper county or registrar of a key prefecture. Advancement always depends on circumstance: some receive good offices while young, others never leave humble posts in old age. Poor scholars may be forty before passing the Classics examination, wait eight years for selection, receive one office, and often fail to complete three evaluations; their second selection drifts into delay, and some never reach magistrate or registrar in a lifetime. Without reform, how can they advance? I ask that Classics graduates after one term and two evaluations be allowed magistrate of a middle-lower county or registrar of a lower prefecture." An edict replied: "Candidates face varied hardships, starting late and ending low; the not-yet-advanced should be favored and renewing grace displayed. For Classics graduates, after one term and two evaluations, the former edict allowed only magistrate of a lower county or registrar of a lower prefecture; henceforth they may also enter as magistrate of a middle-lower county or registrar of a lower prefecture; those with one term and three evaluations shall be registered in populous districts; if no matching post appears under the recent edict, they shall enter office according to the standard qualification ladder; those with two terms and four evaluations follow the precedent for two terms and five evaluations; all other cases follow the standard regulations."
16
晉天福三年正月，詔曰：「舉選之流，苦辛備歷，或則耽書歲久，或則守事年深，少有違礙格條，例是不知式樣。 今則方求公器，宜被皇恩，所有選人等，宜令所司，除元駁放及落下事由外，如無違礙，並與施行。 仍令所司遍下諸道，起今後文解差錯，過在發解州府官吏。
In the first month of Tianfu 3 of Jin, an edict declared: "Candidates for examination and selection have endured great hardship—some studying books for years, others holding office for years—and when they rarely violate a regulation, it is usually because they do not know the proper forms. Now that the state seeks public talent, they should receive imperial grace; responsible offices should implement all candidates' cases except those originally rejected or dropped, provided there is no impediment. Responsible offices shall also announce to all circuits that from now on errors in literary credentials shall be charged to the credentialling prefectural officials.
17
漢乾祐二年八月，右拾遺高守瓊上言：「仕宦年未三十，請不除授縣令。」 因下詔曰：「起今後諸色選人，年七十者宜註優散官； 年少未歷資考者，不得註授令錄。」 其年十二月，中書門下奏：「應諸出選門官並歷任內曾升朝及兩使判官，今任卻授令錄者，並依見任官選數赴集。」 從之。
In the eighth month of Qianyou 2 of Han, Right Remonstrance Councillor Gao Shouqiong wrote: "I ask that officials under thirty not be appointed magistrates." An edict followed: "Henceforth, candidates of all categories aged seventy should receive superior scattered offices; those young in years who have not completed qualification reviews may not be registered as magistrates or registrars." In the twelfth month of that year, the Secretariat wrote: "Officials who have passed through the selection gate and once attended court or served as commissioners' judges, yet are now appointed magistrate or registrar, shall all assemble according to the selection count of their present office." Approved.
18
周廣順元年二月，詔曰：「自前朝廷除官，銓司選授，當其用闕，皆稟舊規。 近聞所得官人，或他事阻留，或染疾淹駐，始赴任者既過月限，後之官者遂失期程，以至相沿，漸成非次。 是致新官參謝欲上，舊官考秩未終，待滿替移，動逾時月，雕殘一處，新舊二官，在迎送以為勞，必公私之失緒。 今後應諸道州府錄事參軍、判司、縣令、主簿等，宜令本州府，以到任月日，旋具申奏及報吏部，此後中書及銓司，以到任月日用闕，永為定制。」 其年十月，詔曰：「選部公事，比置三銓，所有員闕選人，分在三處，每至註擬之際，資敘難得相當。 況今年選人不多，宜令三銓公事，並為一處，委本司長官通判，同商量可否施行。 今當開泰之期，宜軫單平之眾，自今後合格選人，歷任無違礙者，並仰吏部南曹判成，如文解差錯，不合式樣，罪在發解官吏。」
In the second month of Guangshun 1 of Zhou, an edict declared: "When the court appoints offices and the Selection Office grants posts, vacancies have always been filled according to established rules. Recently appointed officials are often detained by other business or linger with illness; the first incumbent passes the monthly limit while successors miss their schedule, and the practice has gradually fallen out of order. Thus the new official arrives to pay respects while the old one's evaluation term is unfinished; replacement drags on for months, leaving one distressed district with two officials busy with formalities and both public and private affairs in disorder. Henceforth registrars, judges, magistrates, chief clerks, and the like in all circuits shall have their home prefecture report the date of arrival to the Ministry of Personnel; thereafter the Secretariat and Selection Office shall fill vacancies by that date as a permanent rule." In the tenth month of that year, an edict declared: "The Selection Department formerly maintained three boards; vacancies and candidates were divided among them, and qualifications were hard to match at registration. This year candidates are few; the three boards' business should be combined in one place under the department chief, who shall deliberate jointly on implementation. Now in this season of renewed peace, the state should care for the common people; henceforth qualified candidates whose service records are unimpeded shall all be finalized by the Ministry of Personnel Southern Bureau; errors in credentials shall be charged to the credentialling officials."