Volume 156 Treatises 109: Selection and appointment of Officials 2

選舉二〈（科目下舉遺逸附）〉

Selection and Appointment, Part Two (Appended: Recommendations by Examination Subject and Unattached Worthies)

高宗建炎初，駐蹕揚州，時方用武，念士人不能至行在，下詔：「諸道提刑司選官即轉運置司州、軍引試，使副或判官一人董之。河東路附京西轉運司。國子監、開封府人就試於留守司，命御史一人董之。國子監人願就本路試者聽。」二年，定詩賦、經義取士，第一場詩賦各一首，習經義者本經義三道，《語》、《孟》義各一道；第二場並論一道；第三場並策三道。殿試策如之。自紹聖後，舉人不習詩賦，至是始復，遂除《政和令》命官私相傳習詩賦之禁。又詔：「下第進士，年四十以上六舉經禦試、八舉經省試，五十以上四舉經禦試、五舉經省試者，河北、河東、陝西特各減一舉；元符以前到省，兩舉者不限年，一舉年五十五已上者；諸道轉運司、開封府悉以名聞，許直赴廷試。」

Early in the Jianyan reign, Emperor Gaozong took up residence at Yangzhou. With war underway, he worried that scholars could not reach the mobile court and issued an edict: each circuit's judicial intendant commission was to choose officials to hold examinations promptly at the transport commission seats in the various prefectures and army commands, with a vice commissioner or administrative aide supervising each site. The Hedong Circuit was placed under the Capital West transport commission. Students of the Directorate of Education and candidates from Kaifeng Prefecture were to take their examinations at the Pacification Commission, under the supervision of a censor. Directorate students who preferred to sit for the examination in their home circuit were allowed to do so. In the second year the court fixed recruitment through both the poetry-rhapsody and classic-elucidation tracks. The first session required one poem and one rhapsody; candidates in classic elucidation faced three questions on their principal classic and one each on the Analects and Mencius; the second session required one discourse essay; and the third session three policy questions. The palace examination used the same policy-question format. Since the Shaosheng era candidates had neglected poetry and rhapsody; only now was that curriculum restored, and the Zhenghe statute forbidding officials and private persons to teach or study poetry and rhapsody was repealed. Another edict provided that failed jinshi candidates aged forty or more who had sat six palace examinations and eight metropolitan examinations, or aged fifty or more who had sat four palace and five metropolitan examinations, might qualify with one fewer attempt in Hebei, Hedong, and Shaanxi; those who had reached the metropolitan examination before the Yuanfu era with two attempts, without age limit, or with one attempt at age fifty-five or above; all circuit transport commissions and Kaifeng Prefecture were to report their names, and they were permitted to proceed directly to the court examination."

是秋，四方士集行在，帝親策於集英殿，第為五等，賜正奏名李易以下四百五十一人進士及第、進士出身、同學究出身、同出身。第一人為左宣教郎，第二、第三人左宣義郎，第四、第五人左儒林郎。第一甲第六名以下並左文林郎，第二甲並左從事郎，第三甲以下並左迪功郎。特奏名第一人附第二甲，賜進士及第，第二、第三人賜同進士出身，餘賜同學究出身。登仕郎、京府助教、上下州文學、諸州助教入五等者，亦與調官。川、陝、河北、京東正奏名不赴者一百三人，以龍飛特恩，即家賜第。故事，廷試上十名，內侍先以卷奏定高下。帝曰：「取士當務至公，豈容以己意升降，自今勿先進卷。」

That autumn scholars from every region gathered at the mobile court. The emperor examined them personally in the Hall for Assembling Excellence, divided them into five grades, and conferred upon the four hundred fifty-one regular listed candidates from Li Yi downward the ranks of jinshi with honors, jinshi by origin, fellow student-scholar by origin, and fellow by origin. The top candidate received the rank of Left Instructor in Instruction; the second and third received Left Instructor in Righteousness; the fourth and fifth received Left Forest of Scholars. From sixth place in the first class downward, all received Left Literary Forest; the entire second class received Left Attendant Official; the third class and below all received Left Merit Officer. The leading special-listed candidate was placed in the second class and granted jinshi with honors; the second and third received fellow jinshi by origin; the remainder received fellow student-scholar by origin. Those placed in the fifth grade as Court Gentleman, capital-prefecture assistant instructors, literary scholars of upper and lower prefectures, and prefectural assistant instructors were also given official appointments. One hundred three regular listed candidates from Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hebei, and the Eastern Capital circuits who failed to attend received degrees at home under the special grace marking the emperor's accession. By precedent, for the top ten court-examination candidates palace attendants submitted the papers in advance to fix the ranking. The emperor said, "Selecting scholars demands absolute fairness. How can personal preference be allowed to raise or lower ranks? From now on, do not submit papers in advance."

三年，詔：「過省進士赴禦試不及者，令漕臣據元舉送狀申省，給敕賜同進士出身。其計舉者，賜下州文學，並釋褐焉。」左司諫唐煇言：「舊制，省試用六曹尚書、翰林學士知貢舉，侍郎、給事中同知貢舉，卿監、郎官參詳，館職、學官點檢，御史監視，故能至公厭人心。今諸道類試，顓委憲臣，奸弊滋生，才否貿亂，士論囂然，甚不稱更製設科之意，請並還禮部。」遂罷諸道類試。四年，復川、陝試如故。

In the third year an edict ordered that jinshi who had passed the metropolitan examination but failed at the palace examination should have the transport commissioner report to the ministry on the basis of the original recommendation documents and receive an edict conferring fellow jinshi by origin. Those counted toward the quota were to receive the rank of literary scholar in a lower prefecture, and all were to be released from commoner status." Left Remonstrance Bureau remonstrator Tang Hui said, "Under the old system the metropolitan examination was directed by the six ministry directors and Hanlin academicians, with vice ministers and drafting attendants as associates, directorate officials and bureau officials for detailed review, academy appointees and school officials for inspection, and censors for supervision—so that utmost fairness could be achieved and public confidence secured. Now the circuit classified examinations are entrusted entirely to judicial commissioners; fraud flourishes, merit and mediocrity are confused, and scholarly opinion is in uproar—far from the intent of the examination reforms. I ask that authority be restored entirely to the Ministry of Rites." The circuit classified examinations were thereupon abolished. In the fourth year the Sichuan and Shaanxi examinations were restored to their former arrangement.

紹興元年，當祀明堂，復詔諸道類試，擇憲、漕或帥守中文學之人總其事，使精選考官。於是四川宣撫處置使張浚始以便宜令川、陝舉人，即置司州試之。會侯延慶言：「兵興，太學既罷，諸生解散，行在職事及厘務官隨行有服親及門客，往往鄉貢隔絕，請立應舉法，以國子監進士為名。」令轉運司附試。又詔：「京畿、京東西、河北、陝西、淮南士人轉徙東南者，令於寓戶州軍附試，別號取放。」

In the first year of Shaoxing, when the Bright Hall sacrifice was due, the court again ordered circuit classified examinations, choosing men of literary accomplishment among judicial commissioners, transport commissioners, or military commissioners and prefects to supervise them and requiring examiners to be chosen with care. Thereupon Sichuan Pacification and Disposition Commissioner Zhang Jun, exercising discretionary authority, first ordered Sichuan and Shaanxi candidates to be examined immediately at each army-command seat. At this time Hou Yanqing said, "With war underway the Imperial University had been suspended and students dispersed. Officials serving at the mobile court and reorganization clerks, along with relatives within the mourning grades and retainers who accompanied them, were often cut off from local recommendation. I ask that a procedure for sitting examinations be established under the designation Directorate of Education jinshi." They were ordered to take attached examinations at the transport commissions. Another edict ordered that scholars of the capital region, the Eastern and Western Capital circuits, Hebei, Shaanxi, and Huainan who had relocated to the southeast should take attached examinations in the prefectures and army commands where they resided, with separate admission quotas.

時諸道貢籍多毀於兵，乃詔轉運司令舉人具元符以後得解、升貢、戶貫、三代、治經，置籍於禮部，以稽考焉。應該恩免解舉人，值兵毀失公據者，召京官二員委保，所在州軍給據，仍申部注籍。侍御史曾統請取士止用詞賦，未須兼經，高宗亦以古今治亂多載於史，經義登科者類不通史，將從其議。左僕射呂頤浩曰：「經義、詞賦均以言取人，宜如舊。」遂止。

At that time recommendation registers throughout the circuits had been largely destroyed in the war. The court ordered transport commissioners to have candidates submit, for the period since the Yuanfu era, records of qualification for exemption, advancement to recommendation, household registration, three generations, and the classic they studied; registers were kept at the Ministry of Rites for verification. Candidates entitled to grace exemption whose official documents had been destroyed in the war were to obtain guarantees from two capital officials; the local prefecture or army command would issue new documents, and their names would still be registered with the ministry. Attending censor Zeng Tong asked that recruitment rely solely on regulated verse and rhapsody, without also requiring the classics. Emperor Gaozong likewise observed that the rise and fall of states in past and present times is recorded chiefly in history, and that those who passed through the classic-elucidation track generally knew little history; he was inclined to accept the proposal. Left Grand Counselor Lü Yihao said, "Classic elucidation and regulated verse and rhapsody alike select men by their writing; the former arrangement should be kept." The proposal was dropped.

二年，廷試，手詔諭考官，當崇直言，抑諛佞。得張九成以下二百五十九人，淩景夏第二。呂頤浩言景夏詞勝九成，請更寘第一。帝曰：「士人初進，便須別其忠佞，九成所對，無所畏避，宜擢首選。」九成以類試、廷策俱第一，命特進一官。時進士卷有犯御名者，帝曰：「豈以朕名妨人進取邪？」令寘本等。又命應及第人各進一秩。舊制，潛藩州郡舉人，必曾請舉兩到省已上乃得試。帝嘗封蜀國公，是年，蜀州舉人以帝登極恩，徑赴類省試，自是為例。

In the second year, at the court examination, the emperor's handwritten edict instructed the examiners to value forthright speech and suppress flattery and sycophancy. Two hundred fifty-nine candidates from Zhang Jiucheng downward were selected; Ling Jingxia placed second. Lü Yihao said that Jingxia's compositions surpassed Jiucheng's and asked that he be placed first instead. The emperor said, "When scholars first enter service one must distinguish the loyal from the sycophantic. Jiucheng's answers showed no fear or evasion; he should be placed first." Because Jiucheng had ranked first in both the classified examination and the court policy questions, he was ordered advanced one rank as a special reward. At that time some jinshi examination papers violated the imperial taboo name. The emperor said, "How can my name be allowed to obstruct anyone's advancement?" He ordered them placed in their proper grade. He also ordered each successful candidate advanced one rank. Under the old system, candidates from prefectures of a prince's hidden fief had to have been recommended and reached the metropolitan examination at least twice before they could sit for examination. The emperor had once been enfeoffed as Duke of Shu. That year candidates from Shu Prefecture, by grace of his accession, proceeded directly to the classified metropolitan examination, and this thereafter became precedent.

五年，初試進士於南省，戒飭有司：「商搉去取，毋以絺繪章句為工，當以淵源學問為尚。事關教化、有益治體者，毋以切直為嫌。言無根柢、肆為蔓衍者，不在采錄。」「舉人程文，許通用古今諸儒之說，及出己意，文理優長為合格。」三月，禦試奏名，汪應辰第一。初，考官以有官人黃中第一，帝訪諸沈應求，應求以沈遘與馮京故事對，乃更擢應辰為魁，遂為定制。

In the fifth year the jinshi examination was first held at the Southern Directorate. Officials were admonished: "In weighing admission and rejection, do not treat ornate phrasing and polished clauses as the standard of excellence; profound learning should be esteemed. Essays bearing on moral transformation and benefiting governance should not be rejected merely for blunt directness. Those whose arguments lack foundation and who indulge in rambling expansion are not to be admitted." Candidates' examination compositions may freely employ the doctrines of ancient and modern Confucians and may also set forth their own views; excellence in reasoning and style qualifies as passing." In the third month, at the palace examination for listed candidates, Wang Yingchen placed first. Initially the examiners had ranked the incumbent official Huang Zhong first. The emperor consulted Shen Yingqiu, who cited the precedents of Shen Kuo and Feng Jing; Yingchen was thereupon raised to first place, and this became fixed practice.

舊制。禦試初考既分等第，印封送覆考定之，詳定所或從初，或從覆，不許別自立等。嘉祐中廢。至是，知制誥孫近奏：「若遵舊制，則高下升黜，盡出詳定官，初、覆考為虛設。請自今初、覆考皆未當，始許奏稟別置等第。」諫議大夫趙霈請用《崇寧令》，凡隔二等、累及五人許行奏稟，從之。是年，川、陝進士止試宣撫司，特奏名則置院差官，試時務策一道，禮部具取放分數、推恩等第頒示之。

Under the old system: after the palace examination's initial review had assigned grades, the papers were sealed and sent to the re-review for final determination; the detailed review office might follow either the initial or the re-review and was not permitted to establish grades on its own. This was abolished in the Jiayou era. At this time Drafter Sun Jin memorialized, "If the old system is followed, promotion and demotion in rank will depend entirely on the detailed review officials, and the initial and re-reviews will be empty formalities. I ask that from now on separate grades may be established by memorial only when both initial and re-reviews are unsatisfactory." Remonstrance and Policy Grandee Zhao Pei asked that the Chongning statutes be applied: whenever there was a gap of two grades or five persons involved cumulatively, memorial submission was permitted; the request was approved. That year Sichuan and Shaanxi jinshi were examined only at the Pacification Commission. For special listed candidates an office was established and officials dispatched; they faced one current-affairs policy question, and the Ministry of Rites supplied the admission scores and favor grades for promulgation.

舊法，隨侍見任守倅等官，在本貫二千里外，曰滿裏子弟。試官內外有服親及婚姻家，曰「避親」。館於見任門下，曰「門客」。是三等許牒試，否則不預。間有背本宗而竄他譜，飛賕而移試他道者，議者病之。六年，詔牒試應避者，令本司長官、州守倅、縣令委保，詭冒者連坐。

Under the old law, sons and younger brothers accompanying incumbent prefectural administrators, vice commissioners, and the like who were more than two thousand li from their native place were called "full-distance native sons and brothers." Those with relatives within the mourning grades inside or outside the examiner's office, or connected by marriage, were called "kin avoidance." Those lodged under an incumbent patron were called "retainers." These three categories were permitted document examinations; otherwise they did not participate. Occasionally some abandoned their own lineage to insert themselves in other genealogies, or used bribery to shift their examination to another circuit—critics deplored the practice. In the sixth year an edict ordered that for document examinations subject to avoidance, the chief of the relevant office, the prefectural administrator or vice commissioner, and the county magistrate should guarantee the candidates; those guilty of fraud would be punished collectively.

七年，命行在職事、厘務官並宗子應舉、取應及有官人，並於行在赴國子監試，始命各差詞賦、經義考官。八年，以平江府四經巡幸，其得解舉人援臨安、建康駐蹕例，各免文解一次。時聞徽宗崩，未及大祥，禮部言：故事，因諒闇罷殿試，則省試第一人為榜首，補兩使職官。帝特命為左承事郎，自此率以為常。九年，以陝西舉人久蹈北境，理宜優異，非四川比，令禮部別號取放。川、陝分類試額自此始。是歲，以科試、明堂同在嗣歲，省司財計艱於辦給，又患初仕待闕率四五年，若使進士、蔭人同時差注，俱為不便，增展一年，則合舊制。十年，遂詔諸州依條發解，十二年正月省試，三月禦試，後皆準此。

In the seventh year officials serving at the mobile court, reorganization clerks, imperial clansmen sitting for examination, those taking special examinations, and persons already holding office were all ordered to take the Directorate of Education examination at the mobile court; separate examiners for regulated verse and rhapsody and for classic elucidation were appointed for the first time. In the eighth year, because Pingjiang Prefecture had received four imperial visits, its qualified candidates were granted, following the precedent of the court's residence at Lin'an and Jiankang, one exemption from the literary qualifying examination each. At that time word came that Emperor Huizong had died, before the completion of major mourning. The Ministry of Rites said that by precedent, when the palace examination was suspended because of imperial mourning, the first place in the metropolitan examination became top candidate and was appointed to a two-envoy office. The emperor specially ordered the rank of Left Assistant Master; from this it generally became regular practice. In the ninth year, because Shaanxi candidates had long suffered in the northern territories and deserved special favor unlike Sichuan, the Ministry of Rites was ordered to admit them under separate quotas. Separate classified examination quotas for Sichuan and Shaanxi began from this point. That year, because the examination and the Bright Hall sacrifice both fell in the following year, provincial departments found finances difficult to supply; it was also feared that new appointees waited four or five years for posts on average, and that simultaneous assignment of jinshi and yin beneficiaries would be inconvenient for all—extending the schedule by one year would accord with the old system. In the tenth year an edict ordered all prefectures to send up candidates according to statute; the metropolitan examination in the first month of the twelfth year and the palace examination in the third month became the standard thereafter.

十三年，國子司業高閌言：「取士當先經術。請參合三場，以本經、《語》、《孟》義各一道為首，詩賦各一首次之，子史論一道、時務策一道又次之，庶幾如古試法。又《春秋》義當於正經出題。」並從之。初立同文館試，凡居行在去本貫及千里已上者，許附試於國子監。十五年，凡特奏名賜同學究出身者，舊京府助教今改將仕郎。是歲，始定依汴京舊制，正奏及特恩分兩日唱名。十七年，申禁程文全用本朝人文集或歌頌及佛書全句者，皆不考。

In the thirteenth year Directorate Vice Director Gao Chong said, "In recruiting scholars, classical learning should come first. I ask that the three sessions be combined: one question each on the base classic, the Analects, and Mencius first; one poem and one rhapsody next; one discourse on the masters and histories and one current-affairs policy question after that—thus approximating the ancient examination method. Spring and Autumn questions should also be drawn from the canonical text." All was approved. The Tongwen Hall examination was first established: all who resided at the mobile court more than one thousand li from their native place were permitted attached examination at the Directorate of Education. In the fifteenth year, all special listed candidates granted fellow student-scholar by origin—formerly capital prefecture assistant instructors—were now given the rank of Awaiting Office Gentleman. That year it was first fixed, following the old Bianjing system, that regular listed candidates and special grace candidates would have their names announced on two separate days. In the seventeenth year the prohibition was reiterated: examination compositions that wholly reproduced collected works of this dynasty's writers, eulogies and hymns, or complete sentences from Buddhist books were not to be examined at all.

十八年，以浙漕舉人有勢家行賂、假手濫名者，諭有司立賞格，聽人捕告。十九年，詔：「自今鄉貢，前一歲，州軍屬縣長吏籍定合應舉人，以次年春縣上之州，州下之學，核實引保，赴鄉飲酒，然後送試院。及期投狀射保者勿受。」自神宗朝程顥、程頤以道學倡於洛，四方師之，中興盛於東南，科舉之文稍用頤說。諫官陳公輔上疏詆頤學，乞加禁絕；秦檜入相，甚至指頤為「專門」，侍御史汪勃請戒飭攸司，凡專門曲說，必加黜落；中丞曹筠亦請選汰用程說者：並從之。二十一年，禦試得正奏名四百人，特奏名五百三十一人。中興以來，得人始盛。

In the eighteenth year, because Zhejiang transport commission candidates included powerful families who bribed officials and used proxies to obtain names improperly, officials were instructed to establish reward schedules and permit people to arrest and report offenders. In the nineteenth year an edict ordered that for local recommendation, one year in advance the chief officials of counties subordinate to prefectures and army commands should register those qualified to sit for examination; in the spring of the following year the county should report to the prefecture, the prefecture to the school, verify and guarantee them, have them attend the district drinking ceremony, and then send them to the examination hall. When the time came, those who submitted documents seeking guarantors at the last moment were not to be accepted." From the Shenzong era Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi had advocated the Learning of the Way at Luoyang, and scholars from all quarters took them as teachers. After the restoration it flourished in the southeast, and examination compositions gradually employed Yi's doctrines. Remonstrance official Chen Gongfu submitted a memorial attacking Yi's learning and requesting that it be strictly prohibited; when Qin Hui entered the chancellorship he even labeled Yi as "sectarian." Attending censor Wang Bo asked that relevant offices be admonished: whenever sectarian or distorted doctrines appeared, they must be rejected; Vice Censor-in-Chief Cao Jun also asked that those who employed Cheng's doctrines be screened out: all was approved. In the twenty-first year the palace examination produced four hundred regular listed candidates and five hundred thirty-one special listed candidates. Since the restoration, recruitment of talent first became abundant.

二十二年，以士習《周禮》、《禮記》，較他經十無一二，恐其學浸廢，遂命州郡招延明於《二禮》者，俾立講說以表學校，及令考官優加誘進。舊諸州皆以八月選日試舉人，有趁數州取解者。二十四年，始定試期並用中秋日，四川則用季春，而仲秋類省。初，秦檜專國，其子熺廷試第一，檜陽引降第二名。是歲，檜孫塤舉進士，省試、廷對皆首選，姻黨曹冠等皆居高甲，後降塤第三。二十五年，檜死，帝懲其弊，遂命貢院遵故事，凡合格舉人有權要親族，並令覆試。仍奪塤出身，改冠等七人階官並帶「右」字，餘悉駁放。程、王之學，數年以來，宰相執論不一，趙鼎主程頤，秦檜主王安石。至是，詔自今毋拘一家之說，務求至當之論。道學之禁稍解矣。

In the twenty-second year, because scholars studying the Rites of Zhou and the Record of Rites were scarcely one or two in ten compared with other classics, fearing that this learning would gradually die out, prefectures and districts were ordered to invite men expert in the Two Rites to establish lectures to display the schools, and examiners were ordered to encourage and advance them preferentially. Formerly all prefectures chose a day in the eighth month to examine candidates; some seized qualifying examinations in several prefectures to maximize their chances. In the twenty-fourth year examination dates were first fixed: all used the Mid-Autumn Festival day; Sichuan used late spring, with the classified metropolitan examination in mid-autumn. Earlier, when Qin Hui monopolized the state, his son Qin Xi placed first in the court examination; Hui pretended to demote him to second place. That year Hui's grandson Qin Sun sat for the jinshi examination; in both the metropolitan examination and the court policy questions he ranked first, and affinal kin such as Cao Guan all placed in the upper grades—later Sun was demoted to third place. In the twenty-fifth year Hui died. The emperor, punishing these abuses, ordered the examination hall to follow precedent: all qualified candidates who were kin of powerful persons were to be re-examined. Sun's degree by origin was still revoked; Guan and six others had their rank titles changed to include the character "Right," and the rest were all rejected and dismissed. For several years the learning of the Cheng brothers and Wang Anshi had divided the chancellors: Zhao Ding upheld Cheng Yi, Qin Hui upheld Wang Anshi. At this time an edict ordered that from then on no single school's doctrine should be binding and that the most correct doctrine should be sought. The prohibition on the Learning of the Way was somewhat relaxed.

自經、賦分科，聲律日盛，帝嘗曰：「向為士不讀史，遂用詩賦。今則不讀經，不出數年，經學廢矣。」二十七年，詔復行兼經，如十三年之制。內第一場大小經義各減一道，如治《二禮》文義優長，許侵用諸經分數。時號為四科。

Since classics and rhapsody were divided into separate tracks, prosodic rules grew ever more prominent. The emperor once said, "Formerly, because scholars did not read history, poetry and rhapsody were used. Now they do not read the classics; within a few years classic learning will be abandoned." In the twenty-seventh year an edict restored the combined-classics format used in the thirteenth year. In the first session one question each on major and minor classic elucidation was reduced; if a candidate in the Two Rites excelled in literary exposition, he might draw on quotas from other classics. The arrangement was then called the four tracks.

舊蜀士赴廷試不及者，皆賜同進士出身。帝念其中有俊秀能取高第者，不宜例置下列，至是，遂諭都省寬展試期以待之。及唱名，閻安中第二，梁介第三，皆蜀士也，帝大悅。二十九年，孫道夫在經筵，極論四川類試請托之弊，請盡令赴禮部。帝曰：「後舉但當遣御史監之。」道夫持益堅，事下國子監，祭酒楊椿曰：「蜀去行在萬里，可使士子涉三峽、冒重湖邪？欲革其弊，一監試得人足矣。」遂詔監司，守倅賓客力可行者赴省，餘不在遣中。是歲，四川類省試始從朝廷差官。

Formerly Sichuan scholars who failed to reach the court examination were all granted fellow jinshi by origin. The emperor thought that among them were outstanding talents capable of high ranks who should not routinely be placed in the lower grades; he therefore ordered the Department of State Affairs to extend the examination period to wait for them. When names were announced, Yan Anzhong placed second and Liang Jie third—both Sichuan scholars—and the emperor was greatly pleased. In the twenty-ninth year Sun Daofu at the Classics Lectures urgently discussed the abuses of patronage in Sichuan's classified examinations and asked that all candidates be sent to the Ministry of Rites. The emperor said, "In future examinations censors should simply be dispatched to supervise." Daofu held firm. The matter was referred to the Directorate of Education; Libationer Yang Chun said, "Shu is ten thousand li from the mobile court—can scholars be made to cross the Three Gorges and brave the heavy lakes? To reform the abuses, one capable supervising examiner is enough." Circuit commissioners were thereupon ordered that only retainers of prefectural administrators and vice commissioners who could travel should go to the metropolitan examination; the rest were not included in the dispatch. That year officials were first dispatched from the court for Sichuan's classified metropolitan examination.

初，類試第一人恩數優厚，視殿試第三人，賜進士及第；後以何耕對策忤秦檜，乃改禮部類試蜀士第一等人，並賜進士出身，自是無有不赴禦試者。惟遇不親策，則類省試第一人恩數如舊，第二、第三人皆附第一甲，九名以上附第二甲焉。是年詔：「四川等處進士，路遠歸鄉試不及者，特就運司附試一次，仍別行考校，取旨立額。」

Initially the first place in the classified examination received generous favor equal to third place in the palace examination and was granted jinshi with honors; Later, because He Geng's policy answers offended Qin Hui, first-place Sichuan candidates in the Ministry's classified examination were all granted jinshi by origin instead; from then on none failed to attend the palace examination. Only when the emperor did not examine in person did the first place in the classified metropolitan examination receive favor as before; second and third were attached to the first class, and nine places and above to the second class. That year an edict ordered that jinshi from Sichuan and other regions who, because of the long journey, could not return home for local examination in time might take one attached examination at the transport commission, with separate evaluation and a quota established by imperial order.

三十一年，禮部侍郎金安節言：「熙寧、元豐以來，經義詩賦，廢興離合，隨時更革，初無定制。近合科以來，通經者苦賦體雕刻，習賦者病經旨淵微，心有弗精，智難兼濟。又其甚者，論既並場，策問太寡，議論器識，無以盡人。士守傳注，史學盡廢，此後進往往得志，而老生宿儒多困也。請復立兩科，永為成憲。」從之。於是士始有定向，而得專所習矣。既而建議者以為兩科既分，解額未定，宜以國學及諸州解額三分為率，二取經義，一取詩賦。若省試，則以累舉過省中數立為定額而分之。詔下其議，然竟不果行。

In the thirty-first year Vice Minister of Rites Jin Anjie said, "Since Xining and Yuanfeng, classic elucidation and poetry-rhapsody have been abolished, restored, combined, and separated with the times, without any fixed regulation. Since the recent combined track, those versed in classics suffer from rhapsody's ornamental carving, while those skilled in rhapsody find classic meanings too profound—minds are not refined enough, and talents are hard to combine. Worse still, when discourses were combined in one session and policy questions too few, a candidate's judgment and capacity could not be fully revealed. Scholars clung to commentarial traditions while historical learning was abandoned; junior men often succeeded while old scholars were left behind. I ask that two separate tracks be restored as permanent statute." This was approved. Scholars then had a fixed direction and could specialize in what they studied. Then memorialists argued that with the two tracks divided and quotas unset, National University and prefectural quotas should be divided in thirds—two parts for classic elucidation and one for poetry-rhapsody. For the metropolitan examination, fixed quotas should be based on the cumulative number of passes and divided accordingly. The memorial was ordered debated but was ultimately not implemented.

孝宗初，詔川、廣進士之在行都者，令附試兩浙轉運司。隆興元年，禦試第一人承事郎、簽書諸州節度判官，第二第三人文林郎、兩使職官，第四第五人從事郎、初等職官，第六人至第四甲並迪功郎、諸州司戶簿尉，第五甲守選。乾道元年，詔四川特奏名第一等第一名賜同學究出身，第二名至本等末補將仕郎，第二等至第四等賜下州文學，第五等諸州助教。二年，禦試，始推登極恩，第一名宣義郎，第二名與第一名恩例，第三名承事郎；第一甲賜進士及第並文林郎，第二甲賜進士及第並從事郎，第三、第四甲進士出身，第五甲同進士出身；特奏名第一名賜進士出身，第二、第三名賜同進士出身。

Early in Emperor Xiaozong's reign, Sichuan and Guang jinshi in the capital were ordered to take attached examinations at the Two Zhe transport commission. In the first year of Longxing, at the palace examination the first place received Assistant Master and signing secretary to military commissioners of all prefectures; second and third received Literary Forest and a two-envoy office; fourth and fifth received Attendant Official and an entry-level office; from sixth place through the fourth class all received Merit Officer and a prefectural revenue clerk or sheriff post; the fifth class awaited selection. In the first year of Qiandao an edict ordered that for Sichuan special listed candidates, first in the first grade received fellow student-scholar by origin; second through the end of that grade received Awaiting Office Gentleman; second through fourth grades received literary scholar of a lower prefecture; and the fifth grade received prefectural assistant instructor. In the second year, at the palace examination, accession grace was first extended: first place received Instructor in Righteousness; second received the same favor as first; third received Assistant Master; the first class received jinshi with honors and Literary Forest; the second class jinshi with honors and Attendant Official; the third and fourth classes jinshi by origin; the fifth class fellow jinshi by origin; the leading special-listed candidate received jinshi by origin; second and third received fellow jinshi by origin.

四年，裁定牒試法：文武臣添差官除親子孫外並罷，其行在職事官除監察御史以上，餘並不許牒試。六年，詔諸道試官皆隔一郡選差，後又令曆三郡合符乃聽入院，防私弊也。

In the fourth year the document examination law was fixed: civil and military supernumerary appointees were abolished except for direct sons and grandsons; officials serving at the mobile court were not permitted document examination except investigating censors and above. In the sixth year an edict ordered that circuit examiners be selected from a prefecture one remove away; later they were required to have served in three successive prefectures before entering the examination hall, to prevent private abuses.

帝欲令文士能射禦，武臣知詩書，命討論殿最之法。淳熙二年禦試，唱第後二日，御殿，引按文士詹騤以下一百三十九人射藝。翌日，又引文士第五甲及特奏名一百五十二人。其日，進士具襴笏入殿起居，易戎服，各給箭六，弓不限鬥力，射者莫不振厲自獻，多命中焉。天子甚悅。凡三箭中帖為上等，正奏第一人轉一官，與通判，餘循一資；二箭中為中等，減二年磨勘；一箭中帖及一箭上垛為下等，一任回不依次注官；上四甲能全中者取旨；第五甲射入上等注黃甲，餘升名次而已。特奏名五等人射藝合格與文學，不中者亦賜帛。

The emperor wished civil scholars to be able to shoot in the imperial presence and military officers to know poetry and the classics; he ordered discussion of methods for ranking performance. In the second year of Chunxi, two days after names were announced at the palace examination, the emperor mounted the hall and summoned one hundred thirty-nine civil scholars from Zhan Quan downward to demonstrate archery. The next day another one hundred fifty-two candidates from the fifth class and the special listed group were summoned. That day the jinshi entered the hall bearing ceremonial tablets, changed into military dress, and each received six arrows; bow draw strength was not limited. Every archer exerted himself, and many hit the target. The emperor was greatly pleased. Three arrows hitting the target sheet counted as the upper grade: the leading regular listed candidate was transferred one rank and given a military commissioner post; the rest advanced one step; two hits counted as the middle grade and reduced merit review by two years; one hit on the sheet and one on the buttress counted as the lower grade, with appointment not in regular order after one term; those in the upper four classes who hit every target received special imperial favor; fifth-class archers who reached the upper grade were placed in the yellow class; the rest merely advanced in rank order. Special listed candidates of the fifth grade who passed archery received literary scholar; those who failed still received silk.

四年，罷同文館試。又命省試簾外官同姓異姓親若門客，亦依簾內官避親法，牒送別院。五年，以階、成、西和、鳳州正奏名比附特奏名五路人例，特升一甲。六年，詔特奏名自今三名取一，寘第四等以前，餘並入第五等，其末等納敕者止許一次，潛藩及五路舊升甲者今但升名。其後又許納敕三次，為定制焉。

In the fourth year the Tongwen Hall examination was abolished. It was also ordered that at the metropolitan examination, kin of the same or different surname, or retainers, of outside-the-curtain officials should follow the inside-the-curtain kin-avoidance law and be sent by document to a separate courtyard. In the fifth year regular listed candidates from Jie, Cheng, Xihe, and Feng prefectures were treated by analogy to the five-circuit special listed precedent and specially raised one class. In the sixth year an edict ordered that for special listed candidates one in three would be taken and placed before the fourth grade; the rest would enter the fifth grade. Those in the lowest grade who submitted edicts were permitted only once; former class promotions for hidden fiefs and the five circuits now advanced only in name. Later, submission of edicts three times was permitted, and this became fixed practice.

十一年，進士廷試不許見燭，其納卷最後者降黜之。舊制，廷試至暮許賜燭，然殿深易暗，日昃已燭出矣。凡賜燭，正奏名降一甲，第五甲降充本甲末名；特奏名降一等，第五等與攝助教。凡試藝於省闈及國子監、兩浙轉運司者，皆禁燭，其他郡國，率達旦乃出。十月，太常博士倪思言：「舉人輕視史學，今之論史者獨取漢、唐混一之事，三國、六朝、五代為非盛世而恥談之，然其進取之得失，守禦之當否，籌策之疏密，區處兵民之方，形勢成敗之跡，俾加討究，有補國家。請諭春官：凡課試命題，雜出諸史，無所拘忌；考核之際，稍以論策為重，毋止以初場定去留。」從之。

In the eleventh year jinshi at the court examination were not permitted candles; those who submitted papers last were demoted. Under the old system the court examination permitted candles until evening; yet the hall was deep and easily dark, and by mid-afternoon candles were already issued. Whenever candles were granted, regular listed candidates were lowered one class; fifth-class candidates were lowered to last place in their class; special listed candidates were lowered one grade; the fifth grade received acting assistant instructor. All who tested at the provincial examination hall, the Directorate of Education, or the Two Zhe transport commission were forbidden candles; in other prefectures and circuits they generally left only at dawn. In the tenth month Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Ni Si said, "Candidates slight historical learning. Today's historians discuss only Han and Tang unification and are ashamed to treat the Three Kingdoms, Six Dynasties, and Five Dynasties as golden ages—yet their advances and retreats, the soundness of defense, the density of strategy, methods for managing troops and people, and the traces of success and failure, if studied further, would benefit the state. I ask that the Ministry of Rites be instructed that all examination questions should draw from various histories without restriction; at evaluation give somewhat more weight to discourses and policy questions, and do not decide admission solely by the first session." This was approved.

十四年，禦試正奏名王容第一。時帝策士，不盡由有司，是舉容本第三，親擢為榜首。翰林學士洪邁言：「《貢舉令》：賦限三百六十字，論限五百字。今經義、論、策一道有至三千言，賦一篇幾六百言，寸晷之下，唯務貪多，累牘連篇，何由精妙？宜俾各遵體格，以返渾淳。」

In the fourteenth year at the palace examination regular listed candidate Wang Rong placed first. At that time the emperor examined scholars and did not wholly rely on officials; in this examination Rong had originally been third but was personally raised to first place. Hanlin Academician Hong Mai said, "The Statutes on Recommendation and Examination limit rhapsody to three hundred sixty characters and discourse to five hundred. Now one classic elucidation, discourse, or policy question reaches three thousand characters, and one rhapsody nearly six hundred. Under the pressure of a short measure of time candidates only strive to be lengthy—sheets piled page on page—how can there be refinement? They should each follow the proper form to return to simplicity."

時朱熹嘗欲罷詩賦，而分諸經、子、史、時務之年。其《私議》曰：「古者大學之教，以格物致知為先，而其考校之法，又以九年知類通達、強立不反為大成。今《樂經》亡而《禮經》闕，二戴之《禮》已非正經，而又廢其一。經之為教已不能備，而治經者類皆舍其所難而就其易，僅窺其一而不及其餘。若諸子之學同出於聖人，諸史則該古今興亡治亂得失之變，皆不可闕者。而學者一旦豈能盡通？若合所當讀之書而分之以年，使之各以三年而共通其三四之一。凡《易》、《詩》、《書》為一科，而子年、午年試之；《周禮》、《儀禮》及二《戴記》為一科，而卯年試之；《春秋》及《三傳》為一科，而酉年試之。義各二道，諸經皆兼《大學》、《論語》、《中庸》、《孟子》義一道。論則分諸子為四科，而分年以附焉。諸史則《左傳》、《國語》、《史記》、《兩漢》為一科，《三國》、《晉書》、《南北史》為一科，《新舊唐書》、《五代史》為一科。時務則律曆、地理為一科，以次分年如經、子之法，試策各二道。又使治經者各守家法，答義者必通貫經文，條舉眾說而斷以己意，有司命題必依章句，如是則士無不通之經、史，而皆可用於世矣。」其議雖未上，而天下誦之。

At that time Zhu Xi had wished to abolish poetry and rhapsody and divide the examination years among classics, masters, histories, and current affairs. His Private Discourse states, "In antiquity the teaching of the Great Learning put investigating things and extending knowledge first, and its method of examination took nine years' knowledge of categories, penetration, and firm establishment without reversal as full completion. Now the Classic of Music is lost and the Classic of Rites is deficient; the Rites of the two Dai are no longer orthodox classics, and one of them is further abandoned. Teaching through the classics can no longer be complete, and those who study classics generally abandon what is difficult and take what is easy, merely glimpsing one and not reaching the rest. The learning of the various masters likewise derives from the sages; the various histories encompass the changes of rise and fall, order and disorder, gain and loss in past and present—all indispensable. Yet how can scholars master all at once? If the books that should be read are combined and divided by year, so that in three years each commonly masters three or four parts of one track. The Changes, Odes, and Documents would form one track, examined in zi and wu years; the Rites of Zhou, Etiquette and Ceremonial, and the two Dai Records would form one track, examined in mao years; the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Three Commentaries would form one track, examined in you years. There would be two elucidation questions each; all classics would also include one question on the Great Learning, Analects, Doctrine of the Mean, and Mencius. Discourses would divide the masters into four tracks, attached to years in sequence. For histories, the Zuo Commentary, Discourses of the States, Records of the Grand Historian, and the two Han would form one track; the Three Kingdoms, Book of Jin, and Northern and Southern Histories another; and the New and Old Books of Tang and History of the Five Dynasties another. For current affairs, calendrical astronomy and geography would form one track, divided by year in sequence like classics and masters, with two policy questions each. Those studying classics would each maintain his school's method; those answering elucidation must penetrate the classic text, list various doctrines, and decide by their own judgment; officials setting questions must follow chapter and sentence—thus scholars would master classics and histories alike and all could serve the world." Though this proposal was never submitted, it was recited throughout the realm.

光宗初，以省試春淺，天尚寒，遂展至二月朔卜曰，殿試於四月上旬。紹熙元年，仍按射，不合格者罷賜帛。舊命官鎖廳及避親舉人同試。三年，始令分場，以革假人試藝者，於是四蜀皆然。

Early in Emperor Guangzong's reign, because the metropolitan examination in early spring was still cold, it was extended to an auspicious day in the second month, with the palace examination in the first ten days of the fourth month. In the first year of Shaoxi archery was still required; those who failed were denied silk. Formerly incumbent officials in locked chambers and kin-avoidance candidates were examined together. In the third year separate examination grounds were first ordered to stop proxy examinees; thereafter all four Shu regions did likewise.

寧宗慶元二年，韓侂胄襲秦檜餘論，指道學為偽學，台臣附和之，上章論列。劉德秀在省闈，奏請毀除語錄。既而知貢舉吏部尚書葉翥上言：「士狃於偽學，專習語錄詭誕之說、《中庸》《大學》之書，以文其非。有葉適《進卷》、陳傅良《待遇集》，士人傳誦其文，每用輒效。請令太學及州軍學，各以月試合格前三名程文，上御史臺考察，太學以月，諸路以季。其有舊習不改，則坐學官、提學司之罪。」是舉，語涉道學者，皆不預選。四年，以經義多用套類，父子兄弟相授，致天下士子不務實學。遂命有司：六經出題，各於本經摘出兩段文意相類者，合為一題，以杜挾冊讎偽之計。

In the second year of Qingyuan under Emperor Ningzong, Han Tuozhou adopted Qin Hui's remaining arguments, labeled the Learning of the Way as false learning, and censorial officials echoed him with memorials enumerating offenders. Liu Dexiu at the provincial examination memorialized requesting destruction of recorded sayings. Then Chief Examination Officer, Minister of Personnel Ye Zhi memorialized, "Scholars are addicted to false learning, specializing in the bizarre doctrines of recorded sayings and the books Doctrine of the Mean and Great Learning to ornament their errors. There are Ye Shi's Memorials and Chen Fuliang's Collection on Treatment; scholars transmit and recite them and imitate them whenever they write. I ask that the Imperial University and prefectural and army-command schools each submit the top three monthly examination papers to the Censorate for inspection—the university monthly, the circuits quarterly. If old habits are not reformed, school officials and education commissioners shall be punished." In this examination all whose language touched the Learning of the Way were excluded from selection. In the fourth year, because classic elucidation widely used formulaic categories transmitted from father to son and brother to brother, scholars throughout the realm neglected solid learning. Officials were ordered that for the six classics, in each classic two passages of similar meaning should be selected and combined as one question, to block cheating by bringing books.

開禧元年，詔：「禮部考試，以三場俱優為上，二場優次之，一場優又次之，俱劣為下。毋以片言隻字取人。編排既定，從知舉審定高下，永為通考之法。」二年，以舉人奸弊滋多，命諸道漕司、州府、軍監，凡發解舉人，合格試卷姓名，類申禮部。候省試中，牒發御史臺，同禮部長貳參對字畫，關禦藥院內侍照應，廷試字畫不同者，別榜駁放。

In the first year of Kaixi an edict ordered that in Ministry of Rites examinations excellence in all three sessions ranked highest; excellence in two sessions next; excellence in one session after that; and all poor performances lowest. Do not select people by a fragment or a single word. Once the arrangement was fixed, the chief examiners determined ranking, and this permanently became the method for general examinations. In the second year, because examinee fraud grew more numerous, the court ordered transport commissions of every circuit, prefectures, army commands, and supervisory offices: for all candidates sent up, the names on qualifying examination papers were to be classified and submitted to the Ministry of Rites. When they passed the metropolitan examination, a memorandum was sent to the Censorate; together with the Ministry of Rites senior and second officials they collated handwriting, coordinating with Inner Service Bureau eunuchs of the Imperial Pharmacy; those whose palace-examination handwriting differed were struck from a separate list and dismissed.

舊制，秋貢春試，皆置別頭場，以待舉人之避親者。自緦麻以上親及大功以上婚姻之家，皆牒送。惟臨軒親試，謂之天子門生，雖父兄為考官，亦不避。嘉定元年，始因議臣有請，命朝官有親屬赴廷對者，免差充考校。十二年，命國子牒試，禁假托宗枝、遷就服屬，犯者必寘於罰。十五年，秘書郎何淡言：「有司出題，強裂句讀，專務斷章，離絕旨意，破碎經文。望令革去舊習，使士子考注疏而辨異同，明綱領而識體要。」從之。

Under the old system, autumn tribute and spring examinations each had a separate-track session for candidates avoiding kin. Relatives within three-months mourning and affinal kin within greater merit mourning were all reported by memorandum. Only the imperial hall audience examination, called the emperor's own disciples, did not require avoidance even when fathers or elder brothers served as examiners. In the first year of Jiading, beginning with a memorialist's request, court officials whose kin were taking the palace audience were excused from appointment as examiners. In the twelfth year, Imperial University document examinations were ordered: false claims of collateral lineage and shifting mourning grades were forbidden; violators would certainly be penalized. In the fifteenth year, Secretariat Attendant He Dan said, "When offices set questions they forcibly split sentences and punctuation, specializing in excerpting chapters, severing the meaning and fragmenting the classic text. I hope you will order the reform of old habits so that scholars study commentaries to distinguish agreements and differences, clarify outlines, and grasp essentials." The court approved.

至理宗朝，奸弊愈滋。有司命題苟簡，或執偏見臆說，互相背馳，或發策用事訛舛，故士子眩惑，莫知適從，才者或反見遺。所取之士既不精，數年之後，復俾之主文，是非顛倒逾甚，時謂之繆種流傳。復容情任意，不學之流，往往中第。而舉人之弊凡五：曰傳義，曰換卷，曰易號，曰卷子出外，曰謄錄滅裂。迨寶慶二年，左諫議大夫朱端常奏防戢之策，謂：「試院監大門、中門官，乃一院襟喉切要，乞差有風力者。入試日，一切不許傳遞。門禁既嚴，則數弊自清。士人暮夜納卷，易於散失。宜令封彌官躬親封鐍卷匱，士人親書幕曆投匱中。俟舉人盡出院，然後啟封，分類抄上，即付謄錄所。明旦，申逐場名數於御史臺檢核。其撰號法，上一字許同，下二字各異，以杜訛易之弊。謄錄人選擇書手充，不許代名，具姓名字樣，申院覆寫檢實。傳義置窠之人，委臨安府嚴捕。其考官容情任意者，許台諫風聞彈奏，重寘典憲。及出官錢，立賞格，許告捉懷挾、傳題、傳稿、全身代名入試之人。」帝悉從之，且命精擇考官，毋仍舊習。舊制，凡即位一降科詔，及大比之歲，二月一日一降詔，許發解，然後禮部遍牒諸路及四川州軍。至是，以四川鎖院改用二月二十一日，與降詔日相逼，遂改用正月十五日奏裁降詔。

By the reign of Emperor Lizong, fraud had grown worse. Offices set questions carelessly; some held biased speculative theories that contradicted one another, or policy questions contained factual errors, so scholars were bewildered and did not know what to follow, and the talented were sometimes passed over. Because those selected were unrefined, several years later they were again made chief examiners; right and wrong were inverted all the more, and contemporaries called it the transmission of erroneous seed. Examiners again indulged candidates at will, and the unlearned often passed. Examinee abuses numbered five: passing prepared answers, switching papers, changing registration numbers, papers taken outside the grounds, and sloppy transcription. In the second year of Baoqing, Left Remonstrance Grandee Zhu Duanchang memorialized preventive measures, saying, "The officials supervising the great and middle gates of the examination compound are the compound's vital throat; please assign men of forceful character. On the day of entry, all passing of messages should be forbidden. Once gate security is strict, several abuses will clear themselves. When scholars submitted papers at night, they were easily lost. Sealing officials should personally lock the paper chests; scholars should personally write their names on curtain registers and deposit them in the chests. Only after all candidates had left the compound should the chests be opened, papers classified and copied, and then sent to the transcription office. The next morning, report the name counts for each session to the Censorate for verification. For composing registration numbers, the first character might match but the last two must differ, to block fraudulent substitution. Transcription clerks should be selected copyists; proxy names are forbidden; surname, given name, and handwriting samples should be submitted to the compound for copying and verification. Those who passed prepared answers and set up nests for them were entrusted to Lin'an Prefecture for strict arrest. Examiners who indulged candidates at will might be impeached on hearsay by the censorate and heavily punished under statute. Official funds should be issued and reward scales established, permitting informants to arrest those who concealed texts, passed topics or drafts, or entered the examination under another's name in full. The emperor approved all of this and also ordered examiners to be carefully chosen and old habits not followed. Under the old system, upon enthronement one examination edict was issued, and in triennial examination years an edict on the first day of the second month permitted send-up; then the Ministry of Rites circulated memoranda to all circuits and Sichuan prefectures and army commands. At this time, because Sichuan's locked examination compound had been moved to the twenty-first day of the second month, crowding the edict day, the edict was changed to the fifteenth day of the first month by memorial for imperial decision.

紹定元年，有言舉人程文雷同，或一字不差。其弊有二：一則考官受賂，或授暗記，或與全篇，一家分傳謄寫；一則老儒賣文場屋，一人傳十，十人傳百，考官不暇參稽。於是命禮部戒飭，前申號三日，監試會聚考官，將合取卷參驗互考，稍涉雷同，即與黜落。或仍前弊，以致覺察，則考官、監試一例黜退。初，省試奉敕差知貢舉一員，同知二員，內差台諫官一員；參詳官若干員，內差監察御史一員。俾會聚考校，微寓彈壓糾察之意。韓侂胄用事，將鈐製士人，遂於三知舉外，別差同知一員，以諫官為之，專董試事，不復干預考校，參詳官亦不差察官。於是約束峻切，氣焰薰灼。嘉泰間，更名監試，其失愈甚，製造簿曆，嚴立程限。至是，復舊制，三知舉內差一台諫，十參詳內差一御史，仍戒飭試官，精加考校，如日力不給，即展期限。

In the first year of Shaoding, it was reported that examinees' essays were identical, sometimes not differing by a single character. The abuses were twofold: examiners took bribes and either gave secret marks or entire essays, which one family divided and copied; second, old scholars sold essays at the examination grounds—one person passed them to ten, ten to a hundred—and examiners had no time to check. The Ministry of Rites was ordered to admonish examiners: three days before reporting registration numbers, the examination supervisor should gather examiners to cross-check papers intended for selection; any hint of identical wording was to bring dismissal. If the old abuses continued and were discovered, examiners and the examination supervisor were alike dismissed. Initially, for the metropolitan examination the throne assigned one chief examination officer and two associate chiefs, including one censorate or remonstrance official; and several review officials, including one investigating censor. They gathered to grade papers, subtly embodying restraint and oversight. When Han Tuozhou held power he meant to control scholars; beyond the three chief examiners he separately assigned one associate chief from remonstrance officials to direct examination affairs alone, no longer intervening in grading, and review officials were no longer assigned censors. Restrictions became severe and their arrogance overwhelming. In the Jiatai era the post was renamed examination supervisor; the abuses grew worse, with manufactured registers and strict time limits. At this time the old system was restored: among three chief examiners one censorate or remonstrance official, among ten review officials one censor; examiners were admonished to grade carefully, and if time was insufficient the deadline was extended.

二年，臣僚言考官之弊：詞賦命題不明，致士子上請煩亂；經義不分房別考，致士子多悖經旨。遂飭考官明示詞賦題意，各房分經考校。凡廷試，唯蜀士到杭最遲，每展日以待。會有言：「蜀士嗜利，多引商貨押船，致留滯關津。」自是，定以四月上旬廷試，更不移展。三年，臣僚請：「學校、場屋，並禁斷章截句，破壞義理，及《春秋經》越年牽合。其程文，本古注、用先儒說者取之，穿鑿撰說者黜落。」

In the second year officials reported examiner abuses: poetry and rhapsody topics were unclear, causing scholars' petitions to multiply; classic elucidation was not examined by separate rooms, causing many scholars to violate the classics' intent. Examiners were admonished to make poetry and rhapsody topics clear and to grade each classic in separate rooms. For every palace examination, Shu scholars arrived latest at Hangzhou, and days were always extended to wait for them. Then it was said, "Shu scholars are greedy for profit and often load merchant goods onto escort boats, causing delays at passes." From then on the palace examination was fixed in the first ten days of the fourth month and no longer postponed. In the third year officials requested, "In schools and examination grounds alike, forbid excerpting chapters and cutting sentences, destroying meaning, and forcing connections across years in the Spring and Autumn Annals. For examination essays, select those based on ancient commentaries and former Confucians' explanations; dismiss forced ingenious fabrications."

四年，臣僚甚言科場之弊，乞戒飭漕臣嚴選考官。地多經學，則博選通經者；地多賦學，則廣致能賦者。主文必兼經賦，乃可充其職。監試或倅貳不勝任，必別擇人。仍令有司量展揭封之期，庶考校詳悉，不致失士。於是命遍諭國子監及諸郡，恪意推行約束，違戾者彈劾治罪。初，四川類試，其事雖隸製司，而監試、考官共十員，唯大院別院監試、主文各一員從朝命，餘聽製司選差。自安丙差四員之外，權委成都帥守臨期從近取具。是歲，始仍舊朝命四員，餘從製司分選。

In the fourth year officials spoke at length of examination abuses and asked that transport commissioners be admonished to select examiners strictly. Where classic learning prevailed, broadly select those versed in the classics; where rhapsody learning prevailed, widely obtain those skilled at rhapsody. Chief examiners must master both classics and rhapsody to fill the post. If the examination supervisor or deputy was incompetent, another person must be chosen. Offices were also to extend the unsealing period as needed so grading could be thorough and scholars not lost. The court ordered the Imperial University and all prefectures instructed to implement the restrictions earnestly; violators were to be impeached and punished. Initially for Sichuan's classified examination, though subordinate to the Pacification Commission, there were ten examination supervisors and examiners; only one supervisor and one chief examiner each for the great and separate compounds followed court appointment, the rest chosen by the commission. Beyond the four An Bing assigned, the Chengdu commander and prefect were temporarily entrusted to fill posts nearby at the last moment. That year four posts were again filled by court appointment as before; the remainder were chosen by the Pacification Commission.

時場屋士子日盛，卷軸如山。有司不能遍睹，迫於日限，去取不能皆當。蓋士人既以本名納卷，或別為名，或易以字，一人而納二三卷。不禁挾書，又許見燭，閩、浙諸郡又間日引試，中有一日之暇，甚至次日午方出。於是經義可作二三道，詩賦可成五六篇。舉人文章不精，考官困於披閱。幸皆中選，乃以兄弟承之，或轉售同族，奸詐百端，真偽莫辨。乃命諸郡關防，於投卷之初，責鄉鄰核實，嚴治虛偽之罪、縱容之罰，其弊稍息。

Scholars at the examination grounds daily increased, and scrolls piled like mountains. Offices could not read them all; pressed by deadlines, selections could not all be fair. Scholars submitted under their true names, or alternate names, or style names—one person might submit two or three scrolls. Concealed books were not forbidden and candles were allowed; in Fujian and Zhejiang prefectures examinations were held on alternate days with a day free in between, and some did not leave until noon the next day. Thus one might compose two or three classic-elucidation answers and five or six poetry and rhapsody pieces. Examinees' essays were unrefined and examiners were overwhelmed by reading. If all passed, brothers could inherit the rank or papers were resold within the clan—fraud took countless forms and truth could not be told. Prefectures were ordered to guard against this: at submission neighbors must verify identity, with strict penalties for fraud and for connivance, and the abuse somewhat abated.

命官鎖廳及避親舉人，自紹熙分場各試，寒士憚之。緣避親人七人取一，其額太窄，咸以為窘；而朝士之被差為大院考官者，恐多妨其親，亦不願差。寒士於鄉舉千百取一之中，得預秋薦，以數千里之遠，辛勤赴省；而省闈差官，乃當相避。遂有隱身匿名不認親戚以求免者，憤懣憂沮狼狽旅邸者，彼此交怨，相視為仇。至是，言者謂：「除大院收試外，以漕舉及待補國子生到省者，與避親人同試於別院，亦將不下數百。人數既多，其額自寬，寒士可不怨其親戚，朝士可不憚於被差。」從之。既而以諸路轉運司牒試，多營求偽冒之弊，遂罷之。其實有妨嫌者收試，每百人終場取一人，於各路州軍解額窄者量與均添，庶士子各安鄉里，無復詐競。於是臨安、紹興、溫、台、福、婺、慶元、處、池、袁、潮、興化及四川諸州府，共增解額一百七十名。未幾，又命止許牒滿裏親子孫及門客，召見任官二員委保，與有官礙格人各處收試，五十人取放一人。合牒親子孫別項隔截收試，不及五十人亦取一人。凡涉詐冒，並坐牒官、保官。

Incumbent officials in locked chambers and kin-avoidance candidates had examined in separate grounds since Shaoxi, which poor scholars dreaded. Kin-avoidance candidates were selected one in seven, a quota thought too narrow; and court scholars assigned as examiners in the great compound feared blocking many kin and were unwilling to serve. Poor scholars who after winning one place among thousands in the prefectural examination gained autumn recommendation traveled thousands of li in hardship to the metropolis; yet at the provincial gate the assigned officials were ones they must avoid. Some hid their identity and disowned kin to escape; others were angry, resentful, and humiliated at inns; they blamed one another and treated each other as enemies. At this time memorialists said, "Besides the great compound, transport-examination candidates and Imperial University students awaiting supplement who reached the metropolis should examine with kin-avoidance candidates in the separate compound—also nearly several hundred. With more candidates the quota would widen; poor scholars need not resent their kin, and court scholars need not fear assignment. The court approved. Soon after, because circuit transport commission document examinations bred much fraud through scheming, they were abolished. Those with real conflicts of interest were examined separately, one selected per hundred who completed the session; where circuit send-up quotas were narrow, additions were made proportionally, so scholars could remain in their districts without fraudulent competition. Lin'an, Shaoxing, Wen, Tai, Fu, Wu, Qingyuan, Chu, Chi, Yuan, Chao, Xinghua, and Sichuan prefectures together gained one hundred seventy send-up places. Before long it was ordered that only full-village close kin, descendants, and retainers on document might be examined, with two incumbent officials as guarantors; incumbent-barred persons were examined in separate places, one selected per fifty. Documented close kin and descendants were examined in a separate segregated category; even with fewer than fifty, one was still selected. In any fraud, both the documenting and guaranteeing officials were punished.

初，唐、鄧二州嘗陷於金，金滅，復得其地，命仍舊類試於襄陽，但別號考校，以優新附士子。舊制，光州解額七名，渡江後為極邊，士子稀少，權赴試鄰州，淳熙間，本州自置科場，權放三名。至是，已五六十年，舉人十倍於前，遂命復還舊額。

Tang and Deng prefectures had once fallen to the Jin; after the Jin fell their territory was recovered and they were ordered to continue classified examination at Xiangyang, but with separate registration numbers, to favor newly attached scholars. Under the old system Guangzhou's send-up quota was seven; after crossing the Yangzi it was an extreme border with few scholars and candidates temporarily examined in neighboring prefectures; in the Chunxi era the prefecture established its own examination ground and temporarily granted three places. By then five or six decades had passed and examinees were ten times the former number; the old quota was restored.

端平元年，以牒試已罷，解額既增，命增額州郡措置關防，每人止納一卷，及開貢院添差考官。時有言：門客及隨侍親子孫五十人取一，臨安府學三年類申人漕試七十取一，又令別試院分項異處收試，已為煩碎；兼兩項士人習賦習《書》之外，習他經者差少，難於取放。遂命將兩項混同收試考校，均作六十取一；京學見行食職事生員二百二十四名，別項發號考校，不限經賦，取放一名。

In the first year of Duanping, because document examination was abolished and send-up quotas increased, prefectures with added quotas were ordered to arrange safeguards, permit only one scroll per person, and add examiners when opening the tribute compound. It was said that retainers and attending kin's descendants were selected one in fifty, Lin'an Prefecture school three-year classified submitters one in seventy on the transport examination, and separate examination compounds with divided categories in different places were already cumbersome; and besides rhapsody and the Documents, few in both categories studied other classics, making selection difficult. Both categories were ordered examined together at one rate of one in sixty; two hundred twenty-four Capital School students on stipend and duty received separate registration and examination without limit to classics or rhapsody, and one was selected.

侍御史李鳴復等條列建言，謂：「台諫充知舉、參詳，既留心考校，不能檢柅奸弊，欲乞仍舊差台諫為監試。懷挾之禁不嚴，皆為具文，欲乞懸賞募人告捉，精選強敏巡按官及八廂等人，謹切巡邏，有犯，則鐫黜官員。考校不精，多緣點檢官不時供卷，及開院日迫，試卷遝至，知舉倉卒不及，遂致遺才，欲乞試院隨房置曆程督，點檢官書所供卷數，逐日押曆考校。試卷不遵舊式，務從簡便，點檢、參詳穿聯為一，欲乞必如舊制，三場試卷分送三點檢、三參詳、三知舉，庶得詳審。試官互考經賦，未必精熟，欲乞前期約度試卷，經、賦凡若干，則各差試官若干，不至偏重。」並從之。

Attending Censor Li Mingfu and others memorialized in articles, saying, "When censorate and remonstrance officials serve as chief examiners and reviewers they attend to grading but cannot check fraud; we ask that censorate and remonstrance officials again be assigned as examination supervisors. The ban on concealed texts is not strict and exists only on paper; we ask rewards for informants, careful selection of keen patrol officials and men of the eight wards for strict patrol, and engraving and dismissal of officials who violate. Grading is careless largely because inspection officials do not supply papers on time and on opening day papers arrive in floods so chief examiners cannot keep up and talent is lost; we ask registers in each room, inspection officials recording papers supplied, and daily stamped progress in grading. Papers do not follow the old form for convenience and inspection and review are combined; we ask the old system restored—papers of three sessions to three inspection officials, three reviewers, and three chief examiners—for thorough examination. Examiners who cross-grade classics and rhapsody are not necessarily skilled in both; we ask estimating papers beforehand and assigning examiners in proportion to classics and rhapsody counts so neither is favored. All was approved.

嘉熙元年，罷諸牒試，應郎官以上監司、守倅之門客及姑姨同宗之子弟，與遊士之不便於歸鄉就試者，並混同試於轉運司，各從所寓縣給據，徑赴司納卷，一如鄉舉之法。家狀各書本貫，不問其所從來，而定其名「寓試」，以四十名為額，就試如滿五十人，則臨時取旨增放。又罷諸路轉運司及諸州軍府所取待補國子生，自明年並許赴國子監混試。以士子數多，命於禮部及臨安轉運司兩試院外，紹興、安吉各置一院，從朝廷差官前詣，同日引試，分各路士人就試焉。同在京，不許見燭。是年，已失京西諸州軍，士多徙寓江陵、鄂州，命京湖製置司於江陵別立貢院，取德安府、荊門軍、歸峽復三州及隨、郢、均、房等京西七郡士人，別差官混試，用十二郡元額混取以優之。

In the first year of Jiaxi all document examinations were abolished; retainers of supervisory commissioners, prefects, and deputies from department rank up, younger kin of paternal and maternal aunts of the same clan, and traveling scholars who could not conveniently return home were examined together at the transport commission, each receiving credentials from the county of residence and submitting papers directly to the commission as in the prefectural examination. Household registers recorded native place regardless of origin, and the name was fixed as "lodging examination," with a quota of forty; if fifty presented themselves, temporary imperial approval could increase the quota. Selection of Imperial University students awaiting supplement by circuit transport commissions and prefectural and army-command offices was also abolished; from the next year all might take the mixed examination at the Imperial University. Because candidates were numerous, beyond the two compounds at the Ministry of Rites and the Lin'an transport commission one compound each was established at Shaoxing and Anji; court-assigned officials went in advance, examinations were held the same day, and scholars of each circuit examined there. As at the capital, candles were not permitted. That year the Capital West prefectures and army commands had been lost and many scholars had moved to Jiangling and Ezhou; the Capital-Huai Pacification Commission was ordered to establish a separate tribute compound at Jiangling for scholars of De'an Prefecture, Jingmen Army, the three recovered prefectures of Gui, Xia, and Fu, and the seven Capital West commanderies including Sui, Ying, Jun, and Fang; separate officials were assigned for a mixed examination, selecting by the combined original quotas of twelve commanderies to favor them.

牒試既罷，又復冒求國子，士大夫為子弟計者，輒牒外方他族，利為場屋相資，或公然受價以鬻。命遍諭百官司知雜司等：如已準朝廷辨驗，批書印紙，批下國子監收試，即報赴試人躬赴監。一姓結為一保，每保不過十人，責立罪罰，當官書押，遞相委保，各給告示，方許投納試卷。冒牒官降官罷任，或一時失於參照，誤牒他族，計自陳悔牒一次。冒牒中選之人，限主保官、舉人一月自首，舉人駁放，主保官免罪；出限不首者，仍照前條罪之。凡類試卷，封彌作弊不一。至是，命前期於兩浙轉運司、臨安府選見役吏胥共三十人，差近上一名部轄入院，十名專管詩賦，餘分管諸經。各隨所管號，於引試之夕，分尋試卷，各置簿封彌，不許混亂；卻別差一吏將號置曆，發過謄錄所書寫。其簿、曆，封彌官收掌，不經吏手，不許謄錄人干預，以革其弊。

After document examination was abolished, false claims to the Imperial University revived: scholar-officials scheming for sons and younger kin documented other clans in distant regions for mutual aid at the examination grounds, or openly took payment to sell the privilege. All offices including miscellaneous affairs offices were instructed: once court verification was approved and stamped papers annotated for the Imperial University to receive the examination, the examinee must be reported to appear in person at the university. One surname formed one guarantee group of no more than ten; penal oaths were required and incumbent officials signed; mutual guarantees were established and notices issued before papers might be submitted. Officials who falsely documented were demoted and dismissed; if through momentary failure of reference another clan was mistakenly documented, self-report and repentance of the document were counted once. Those falsely documented who had been selected were given one month for chief guarantor and examinee to confess; the examinee was struck off and the chief guarantor exempted; those who did not report within the limit were still punished under the previous article. In classified examinations, sealing-name fraud took many forms. Thirty current clerks were selected beforehand from the Liangzhe transport commission and Lin'an Prefecture; one senior section chief entered the compound, ten managed poetry and rhapsody exclusively, and the rest managed the various classics. Each followed the numbers under his charge; on the evening of the examination they separately collected papers, each kept a sealing register, and mixing was forbidden; another clerk was assigned to take the numbers register and send it to the transcription office for copying. Registers and ledgers were kept by sealing officials without passing through clerks' hands; transcription clerks might not intervene, to reform the abuse.

二年，省試下第及遊學人，並就臨安府給據，赴兩浙轉運司混試待補太學生。臣僚言：「國子牒試之弊，冒濫滋甚。在朝之士，有強認疏遠之親為近屬者，有各私親故換易而互牒者，有為權勢所軋、人情所牽應命而泛及者，有自揆子弟非才、牒同姓之雋茂利其假手者，有文藝素乏、執格法以求牒轉售同姓以謀利者。今後令牒官各從本職長官具朝典狀保明，先期取本官知委狀，仍立賞格，許人指實陳首。冒牒之官，按劾鐫秩；受牒之人，駁放殿舉；保官亦與連坐。專令御史臺覺察，都省勘會。類申門客、滿裏子孫仍前漕試，六十人取一，較之他處雖甚優，而取無定額，士有疑心，就試者少。宜令額寬而試者眾，塗一而取之精。」遂依前例放行寓試，以四十名為定額，仍前待補；其類申門客、滿裏子孫及附試並罷。

In the second year, those who failed the metropolitan examination and traveling scholars alike received credentials from Lin'an Prefecture and took the mixed examination at the Liangzhe transport commission for students awaiting supplement to the Imperial University. Officials said, "The abuses of Imperial University document examination have grown worse through false claims. Among court scholars, some forcibly claimed distant kin as close kin; some privately exchanged kin ties and documented one another; some, pressed by power or human obligation, broadly extended documentation; some, knowing their sons lacked talent, documented outstanding men of the same surname to borrow their hands; some, always deficient in literary skill, used regulations to obtain documents and resell them within the clan for profit. Henceforth documenting officials must have their office chiefs prepare court-standard guarantees and beforehand obtain knowledge-delegation statements; reward scales were established and truthful reporting permitted. Officials who falsely documented were investigated, impeached, and demoted; those who received false documents were struck off from the palace examination; guarantee officials were punished collectively. The Censorate was specially charged to observe and the Chief Secretariat to investigate. Classified-submit retainers and full-village descendants still took the transport examination at one in sixty—favorable compared with elsewhere—but with no fixed quota scholars were doubtful and few presented themselves. The quota should be broad and examinees numerous so that one in many might be selected with refinement. Lodging examination was released as before with a fixed quota of forty and the previous awaiting-supplement rule; classified-submit retainers, full-village descendants, and attached examination were all abolished.

淳祐元年，臣僚言：「既復諸路漕試，合國子試、兩項科舉及免舉人，不下千數。宜復撥漕舉、胄舉同避親人並就別院引試，使大院無卷冗之患，小院無額窄之弊。」從之。時淮南諸州郡歲有兵禍，士子不得以時赴鄉試，且漕司分差試官，路梗不可徑達。三年，命淮東州郡附鎮江府秋試，淮西州郡附建康試，蘄黃光三州、安慶府附江州試。三試所各增差試官二員，別項考校，照各州元額取放。是歲，兩浙轉運司寓試終場滿五千人，特命增放二名，後雖多不增，如不及五千人，止依元額。別院之試，大率士子與試官實有親嫌者，紹定間，以漕試、胄試無親可避者亦許試，或謂時相徇於勢要子弟故也；端平初，撥歸大院，寒雋便之；淳祐元年，又復赴別院，是使不應避親之人抑而就此，使天下士子無故析而為二，殊失別試之初意。至是，依端平厘正之，復歸大院。

In the first year of Chunyou officials said, "With circuit transport examinations restored, together with the Imperial University examination, the two recruitment categories, and exempt candidates, the total is no less than a thousand. Transport-examination, collateral-examination, and kin-avoidance candidates should again be assigned to the separate compound so the great compound has no excess of papers and the small compound no narrow quota. The court approved. Huainan prefectures yearly suffered military disasters; scholars could not attend prefectural examinations on time, and when transport commissions assigned examiners roads were blocked and they could not arrive. In the third year Huaidong prefectures were attached to Zhenjiang Prefecture's autumn examination, Huaixi prefectures to Jiankang's examination, and Qi, Huang, Guang, and Anqing to Jiangzhou's examination. Each of the three examination sites gained two additional examiners for separate grading according to each prefecture's original quota. That year the Liangzhe transport commission lodging examination had five thousand completing the final session and two additional places were specially granted; later increases were rare, and if fewer than five thousand completed, only the original quota applied. Separate-compound examination was mostly for scholars and examiners with real kin conflicts; in the Shaoding era transport and collateral candidates with no kin to avoid were also permitted—some said the chief minister indulged powerful families' sons; early in Duanping they were returned to the great compound, which benefited poor talented scholars; in the first year of Chunyou they were again sent to the separate compound, forcing those who need not avoid kin there and splitting scholars nationwide without cause, greatly losing the original intent of separate examination. At this time, following Duanping's correction, they were returned to the great compound.

九年，以臣僚言：「士子又有免解偽冒入試者，或父兄沒而竊代其名，或同族物故而填其籍。」於是令自本貫保明給據，類其姓名先申禮部，各州揭以示眾，犯者許告捉，依鬻舉法治罪。十二年，廣南西路言：「所部二十五郡，科選於春官者僅一二，蓋山林質樸，不能與中土士子同工，請授兩淮、荊襄例別考。」朝廷從其請。自是，廣南分東、西兩路。

In the ninth year officials said, "Scholars also falsely impersonate exempt send-up candidates—some substitute names after fathers or elder brothers die, some fill registers after clansmen die. Credentials were to be issued with guarantee from the native place, names classified and reported first to the Ministry of Rites, and each prefecture was to post the list publicly; violators might be reported and punished under the law on selling examination places. In the twelfth year the Guangnan West Circuit said, "Of twenty-five subordinate commanderies only one or two reach the Ministry of Rites examination; mountain folk are plain and cannot compete with central scholars—please grant separate examination as in Lianghuai and Jingxiang. The court approved. From then on Guangnan was divided into eastern and western circuits.

寶祐二年，監察御史陳大方言：「士風日薄，文場多弊。乞將發解士人初請舉者，從所司給帖赴省，別給一曆，如命官印紙之法，批書發解之年及本名年貫、保官姓名，執赴禮部，又批赴省之年，長貳印署。赴監試者同。如將來免解、免省，到殿批書亦如之。如無曆則不收試。候出官日赴吏部繳納，換給印紙。應合免解、免省人，亦從先發解處照此給曆。如省、殿中選，將元曆發下御史臺考察，以憑注闕給告。士子得曆，可為據證；有司因曆，可加稽驗。日前偽冒之人，可不卻而自遁。」遂自明年始行之。

In the second year of Baoyou Investigating Censor Chen Dafang said, "Scholarly conduct grows daily weaker and the examination field has many abuses. For scholars first seeking send-up, I ask that their office issue a slip for the metropolis and a separate register like appointed officials' stamped papers, annotating the send-up year, true name, age, native place, and guarantors; they should carry it to the Ministry of Rites and have the year of arrival at the metropolis annotated and sealed by senior officials. The same for those attending supervised examinations. If later exempt from send-up or metropolitan examination, palace annotation should be the same. Without a register they should not be examined. Upon taking office they should submit it to the Ministry of Personnel and receive stamped papers. Those entitled to exempt send-up or metropolitan examination should also receive registers from their first send-up place on this model. If selected at metropolitan or palace examination, the original register should be sent to the Censorate for investigation as basis for registering vacancies and issuing notices. Scholars with registers would have evidence; and offices could investigate through the register. Former false impersonators would withdraw of themselves. This was implemented from the next year.

鄉貢、監補、省試皆有復試，然銓擇猶未精，其間濫名充貢者，不可欺同舉之人，冒選橋門者，不逃於本齋之職事。遂命今後本州審察，必責同舉之聯保，監學簾引，必責長諭之證實，並使結罪，方與放行。中書復試，凡涉再引，非係雜犯，並先劄報各處漕司，每遇詔舉，必加稽驗。凡復試，令宰執出題，不許都司干預，仍日輪台諫一員，簾外監試。四年，命在朝之臣，除宰執、侍從、台諫外，自卿監、郎官以下至厘務官，各具三代宗支圖三本，結立罪狀，申尚書省、御史臺及禮部，所屬各置簿籍，存留照應。遇屬子孫登科、發解、入學、奏補事故，並具申入鑿。後由外任登朝，亦於供職日後，具圖籍記如上法。遇胄試之年，照朝廷限員，於內牒能應舉人就試，以革胄牒冒濫之弊。

Prefectural tribute, supervised supplement, and metropolitan examination all had re-examination, yet selection was still imprecise: false names in tribute could not deceive fellow examinees, and false selection at the Rainbow Gate could not escape dormitory duties. Henceforth home prefectures must investigate, require joint guarantee from fellow examinees, require head instructors' verification for supervised school curtain leads, and require penal oaths before release. For Central Secretariat re-examination, whenever a second summons was involved and it was not a miscellaneous offense, transport commissions were first notified by memorandum and every edict recruitment was to be investigated. For re-examinations chief ministers were to set questions without chief secretariat intervention, and one censorate or remonstrance official daily was to supervise outside the curtain. In the fourth year court officials except chief ministers, attendants, and censorate and remonstrance officials, from directorate officials and bureau officials down to clerical officers, were to prepare three copies of three-generation clan charts with penal oaths and report to the Ministry of Personnel, Censorate, and Ministry of Rites; each office was to keep registers for reference. When kin passed degrees, were sent up, entered schools, or received memorial supplements, all were to be reported and entered in the register. Later those entering court from outer appointments were also to prepare charts and registers after assuming office by the same method. In collateral-examination years, within court limits only those documented as able to examine might test, to reform false collateral documentation.

景定二年，胄子牒試員：宰執牒緦麻以上親增作四十人，侍從、台諫、給事中、舍人小功以上親增作二十七人，卿監、郎官、秘書省官、四總領小功以上親增作二十人，寺監丞簿、學官、二令大功以上親增作十五人，六院、四轄、省部門、史館校勘、檢閱大功以上親增作十人，臨安府通判牒大功以上親增作八人，餘應牒親子孫者，一仍舊制。

In the second year of Jingding collateral document-examination quotas were: chief ministers' kin within three-months mourning increased to forty; attendants, censorate and remonstrance officials, drafting attendants, and academicians' kin within lesser merit mourning to twenty-seven; directorate officials, bureau officials, Secretariat officials, and the four commissioners' kin within lesser merit to twenty; temple and directorate assistants, school officials, and two magistrates' kin within greater merit to fifteen; six courts, four jurisdictions, ministry gates, and History Office collators and reviewers' kin within greater merit to ten; Lin'an vice commissioner's kin within greater merit to eight; the remainder documented kin and descendants followed the old system.

度宗初，以雷同假手之弊，多由於州郡試院繼燭達旦，或至次日辰、巳猶未出院，其所以間日者，不惟止可以惠不能文之人，適足以害能文之士，遂一遵舊制，連試三日。時諸州郡以鄉貢終場人眾而元額少，自咸淳九年為始，視終場人多寡，每二百人取放一名。以士子數多，增參詳官二員，點檢試卷官六員。又以臣僚條上科場之弊，以大院別院參詳官、點檢試卷官兼考雷同，又監試兼專一詳定雷同試卷，不預考校。遂罷簾外點檢雷同官，國子監解試雷同官亦罷。

Early in Emperor Duzong's reign, identical-answer and proxy abuses arose largely because prefectural compounds burned candles until dawn or until chen or si the next day; alternate-day examination not only helped the unskilled but harmed the skilled, so the old system of three consecutive days was restored. Because many completed prefectural tribute but quotas were small, from the ninth year of Xianchun one was selected per two hundred completing the final session. Because candidates were numerous, two review officials and six paper-inspection officials were added. Officials also itemized examination abuses: review and inspection officials in great and separate compounds were to check identical answers, and examination supervisors were exclusively to determine identical papers without grading. Outside-curtain identical-answer inspection officials were abolished, as were those at the Imperial University send-up examination.

先是，州郡鄉貢未有復試。會言者謂冒濫之弊，惟在鄉貢，遂命漕臣及帥守於解試揭曉之前，點差有出身倅貳或幕官專充復試。盡一日命題考校，解名多者，斟酌分日。但能行文不繆、說理優通、覺非假手即取，非才不通就與駁放。如將來省復不通，罪及元復試漕守之臣及考校官。十年，省試，命大院、別院監試官於坐圖未定之先，親監分布坐次，嚴禁書鋪等人，不許縱容士子拋離座案，過越廊分，為傳義假手之地。時成都已歸附我朝，殿試擬五月五日，以蜀士至者絕少，展至末旬。又因復試特奏名至部猶少，展作六月七日。近臣以隆暑為請，復命立秋後擇日。七月八日，度宗崩，竟不畢試。嗣君即位，下禮部討論，援引皆未當，既不可謂之亮陰，又不可不赴廷對，乃仿召試館職之制而行之。

Previously prefectural tribute had no re-examination. Memorialists said false overflow lay in prefectural tribute; transport officials and commanders were to assign deputies or staff with examination origins as re-examiners before the send-up list was posted. Questions were set and grading completed in one day, or divided over days where send-up names were many. Those who could write without error, explain principles clearly, and were judged not to have used proxies were selected; the untalented were struck off. If they later failed metropolitan re-examination, the original re-examination transport officials, commanders, and graders were punished. In the tenth year of metropolitan examination, supervisors of great and separate compounds were to oversee seating before charts were set, strictly forbid bookshops and others, and not permit scholars to leave desks or cross corridors for passing answers or proxies. Chengdu had already submitted to the dynasty; the palace examination was planned for the fifth day of the fifth month but extended to the month's last ten days because few Shu scholars arrived. Because few special listed candidates from re-examination reached the ministry, it was extended to the seventh day of the sixth month. Close ministers pleaded intense heat and it was again ordered for a day after Start of Autumn. On the eighth day of the seventh month Emperor Duzong died and the examination was never completed. The successor enthroned and the Ministry of Rites was ordered to discuss; citations were all inappropriate—it could neither be called bright mourning nor could palace audience be skipped—so the system of summoned examination for academy appointments was imitated.

新進士舊有期集，渡江後置局於禮部貢院，特旨賜餐錢，唱第之三日赴焉。上三人得自擇同升之彥，分職有差。朝謝後拜黃甲，其儀設褥於堂上，東西相向，皆再拜。拜已，擇榜中年長者一人，狀元拜之，復擇最少者一人拜狀元。所以侈寵靈，重年好，明長少也。

New jinshi formerly had a period gathering; after crossing the Yangzi a bureau was established at the Ministry of Rites tribute compound with special meal money; they went on the third day after ranks were announced. The top three might choose talented peers who rose with them and divide duties. After court thanks they bowed to the yellow class; cushions were set in the hall east and west facing one another and all bowed twice. After bowing, the eldest on the list was chosen and the top graduate bowed to him; then the youngest was chosen to bow to the top graduate. This displayed favor, honored age and friendship, and clarified senior and junior.

製舉無常科，所以待天下之才傑，天子每親策之。然宋之得才，多由進士，而以是科應詔者少。惟召試館職及後來博學宏詞，而得忠鯁文學之士。或起之山林，或取之朝著，召之州縣，多至大用焉。太祖始置賢良方正能直言極諫、經學優深可為師法、詳閑吏理達於教化凡三科，不限前資，見任職官，黃衣草澤，悉許應詔，對策三千言，詞理俱優則中選。乾德初，以郡縣亡應令者，慮有司舉賢之道或未至也，乃詔許士子詣闕自薦。四年，有司僅舉直言極諫一人，堪為師法一人，召陶穀等發策，帝親御殿臨視之，給硯席坐於殿之西隅。及對策，詞理疏闊，不應所問，賜酒饌宴勞而遣之。

Decree examinations had no fixed subject and awaited outstanding talent; the emperor personally questioned candidates. Yet Song obtained talent mostly through jinshi; few responded to edict through this subject. Only summoned examination for academy appointments and later erudite broad learning produced loyal and literary men. Some were raised from seclusion, some taken from court, summoned from prefectures and counties—many reached great employment. Taizu first established three subjects: worthy and upright able to remonstrate directly, classic learning excellent and deep enough to serve as teacher, and detailed familiarity with official principles reaching education; without limit of prior qualification, current officials and commoners alike might respond; policy answers of three thousand words with excellent language and principle were selected. Early in Qiande, because prefectures and counties had none responding to the edict, fearing offices had not fully reached the way of recommending worthies, scholars were permitted to go to court and recommend themselves. In the fourth year offices recommended only one for direct remonstrance and one as teacher model; Tao Gu and others were summoned to issue questions; the emperor personally attended the hall and gave inkstone and mat in the west corner. Their policy answers were sparse in language and principle and did not answer the questions; they were given wine and a feast and sent away.

開寶八年，詔諸州察民有孝弟力田、奇才異行或文武材幹、年二十至五十可任使者，具送闕下，如無人塞詔，亦以實聞。九年，諸道舉孝弟力田及有才武者凡七百四十人，詔翰林學士李昉等於禮部試其業，一無可采。而濮州以孝悌薦名者三百七十人，帝駭其多，召對講武殿，率不如詔。猶自陳素習武事，復試以騎射，輒顛隕失次。帝紿曰：「是宜隸兵籍。」皆號呼乞免，乃悉罷去。詔劾本部濫舉之罪。

In the eighth year of Kaibao prefectures were ordered to investigate people with filial piety, brotherly respect, diligent farming, outstanding talent, unusual conduct, or civil and military ability aged twenty to fifty fit for service, send them to court, and if none, report truthfully. In the ninth year circuits recommended seven hundred forty persons for filial piety, brotherly respect, diligent farming, or talent and martial skill; Hanlin academician Li Fang and others tested them at the Ministry of Rites and found nothing selectable. Puzhou alone recommended three hundred seventy for filial piety and brotherly respect; the emperor was alarmed and summoned them to the Lecture Martial Hall; most did not meet the edict. They still claimed martial training; retested in mounted archery they toppled and lost order. The emperor feigned, "These should be entered in the military register. All cried begging exemption and were all dismissed. An edict impeached the circuit for excessive recommendation.

咸平四年，詔學士、兩省御史臺五品、尚書省諸司四品以上，於內外京朝幕府州縣官、草澤中，各舉賢良方正一人，不得以見任轉運使及館閣職事人應詔。是年，策秘書丞查道等七人，皆入第四等。景德二年，增置博通墳典達於教化、才識兼茂明於體用、武足安邊、洞明韜略運籌決勝、軍謀宏遠材任邊寄等科，詔中書門下試察其才，具名聞奏，將臨軒親策之。自是應令者浸廣，而得中高等亦少。

In the fourth year of Xianping, academicians, censorate officials of fifth rank, and Ministry of Personnel officials of fourth rank and above were ordered each to recommend one worthy and upright candidate from capital officials, prefectural officials, and commoners; incumbent transport commissioners and academy appointees might not respond to the edict. That year Zha Dao and six other Secretariat assistant directors were examined; all placed in the fourth grade. In the second year of Jingde subjects were added for penetrating the classics and reaching education, combined talent clear in substance and use, martial skill to secure borders, penetrating strategy, and vast military planning for border posts; the Central Secretariat was to test their talent, report names, and the emperor would personally question them at the imperial hall. From then on respondents to edicts gradually increased, but few attained middle or high grades.

太宗以來，凡特旨召試者，於中書學士舍人院，或特遣官專試，所試詩、賦、論、頌、策、制誥，或三篇，或一篇，中格則授以館職。景德後，惟將命為知制誥者，乃試制誥三道。〈（每道百五十字。）〉東封及祀汾陰時，獻文者多試業得官，蓋特恩也。時言者以為：「兩漢舉賢良，多因兵荒災變，所以詢訪闕政。今國家受瑞登封，無闕政也，安取此？」乃罷其科，惟吏部設宏詞、拔萃、平判等科如舊制。

From Taizong onward, special summons for examination were held at the Central Secretariat drafters' courtyard or by specially dispatched officials; candidates were tested in poetry, rhapsody, discourse, eulogy, policy, or edict—three pieces or one—and passing candidates received academy appointments. After Jingde only those to be appointed drafters of edicts were tested on three edict drafts. (Each piece one hundred fifty characters.) At the Eastern Fengshan and Fenyin sacrifices many who presented writings passed tests and received office—special grace. Memorialists said, "In the two Han dynasties worthy and upright candidates were recommended mostly because of war, famine, and disasters, to inquire into governmental lapses. Now the state receives auspicious omens and performs Fengshan—there are no governmental lapses; why adopt this? The subject was abolished; only the Ministry of Personnel's erudite words, outstanding selection, and equal judgment subjects remained as before.

仁宗初，詔曰：「朕開數路以詳延天下之士，而製舉獨久不設，意者吾豪傑或以故見遺也，其復置此科。」於是增其名，曰：賢良方正能直言極諫科，博通墳典明於教化科，才識兼茂明於體用科，詳明吏理可使從政科，識洞韜略運籌帷幄科，軍謀宏遠材任邊寄科，凡六，以待京、朝之被舉及起應選者。又置書判拔萃科，以待選人。又置高蹈丘園科，沉淪草澤科，茂材異等科，以待布衣之被舉者。其法先上藝業於有司，有司較之，然後試秘閣，中格，然後天子親策之。

Early in Renzong's reign an edict said, "I have opened several paths to extend scholars throughout the realm, yet the decree examination alone has long been suspended—perhaps heroes are overlooked thereby; restore this subject. Names were increased to six subjects: worthy and upright able to remonstrate directly; penetrating classics clear in education; combined talent clear in substance and use; detailed official principles for government; penetrating strategy within the curtains; and vast military planning for border posts—for capital and court recommendees and rising candidates. A document-judgment outstanding-selection subject was also established for selection candidates. Subjects were also established for recluses in hills and gardens, the sunken in grasslands, and outstanding talent of exceptional grade—for recommended commoners. The method required submitting work to offices for comparison, then examination at the Secret Pavilion, and if passing, personal questioning by the emperor.

治平三年，命宰執舉館職各五人。先是，英宗謂中書曰：「水潦為災，言事者雲『咎在不能進賢』，何也？」歐陽脩曰：「近年進賢路狹，往時入館有三路，今塞其二矣。進士高科，一路也；大臣薦舉，一路也；因差遣例除，一路也。往年進士五人以上皆得試，第一人及第不十年有至輔相者，今第一人兩任方得試，而第二人以下不復試，是高科路塞矣。往時大臣薦舉即召試，今隻令上簿候缺人乃試，是薦舉路塞矣。惟有因差遣例除者，半是年勞老病之人。此臣所謂薦舉路狹也。」帝納之，故有是命。韓琦、曾公亮、趙概等舉蔡延慶以下凡二十人，皆令召試，宰臣以人多難之。帝曰：「既委公等舉之，苟賢，豈患多也？先召試蔡延慶等十人，餘須後時。」神宗以進士試策，與製科無異，遂詔罷之。試館職則罷詩、賦，更以策、論。

In the third year of Zhiping chief ministers were ordered each to recommend five persons for academy appointments. Earlier Emperor Yingzong told the Central Secretariat, "Floods are a disaster and memorialists say the blame lies in not advancing worthies—why?" Ouyang Xiu said, "In recent years the path for advancing worthies has narrowed; formerly there were three paths into the academy, and now two are blocked. High-ranked jinshi—one path; great ministers' recommendations—one path; appointment by dispatch precedent—one path. Formerly jinshi of fifth place or higher could all be tested and a top graduate might reach chief minister within ten years; now only the top graduate may test after two terms and those below second place are no longer tested—the high-rank path is blocked. Formerly ministerial recommendation meant immediate summoned examination; now candidates only register and wait for a vacancy—the recommendation path is blocked. Only appointees by dispatch precedent remain, and half are aged, old, or ill. This is what I mean by the narrow recommendation path." The emperor accepted this, and therefore the order was issued. Han Qi, Zeng Gongliang, Zhao Gai, and others recommended twenty persons including Cai Yanqing for summoned examination; chief ministers found the number troublesome. The emperor said, "Since I entrusted you to recommend them, if they are worthy, why fear their number? First summon Cai Yanqing and ten others for examination; the rest must wait. Because jinshi policy examinations resembled decree subjects, Shenzong ordered their abolition. Academy tests abolished poetry and rhapsody and used policy questions and discourse instead.

元祐二年，復製科。凡廷試前一年，舉奏官具所舉者策、論五十首奏上，而次年試論六首，禦試策一道，召試、除官、推恩略如舊制。右正言劉安世建言：「祖宗之待館職也，儲之英傑之地以飭其名節，觀以古今之書而開益其聰明，稍優其廩，不責以吏事，所以滋長德器，養成名卿賢相也。近歲其選浸輕，或緣世賞，或以軍功，或酬聚斂之能，或徇權貴之薦。未嘗較試，遂獲貼職，多開幸門，恐非祖宗德意。望明詔執政，詳求文學行誼，審其果可長育，然後召試，非試毋得輒命，庶名器重而賢能進。」三年，乃詔：「大臣奏舉館職，並如舊召試、除授，惟朝廷特除，不用此令。」安世復奏曰：「祖宗時入館，鮮不由試。惟其望實素著，治狀顯白，或累持使節，或移鎮大藩，欲示優恩，方令貼職。今既過聽臣言，追復舊制，又謂『朝廷特除，不在此限』。則是人材高下，資曆深淺，但非奏舉，皆可直除，名為更張，弊源尚在。願仿故事，資序及轉運使，方可以特命除授，庶塞僥幸，以重館職之選。」

In the second year of Yuanyou decree subjects were restored. One year before the palace examination recommending officials submitted fifty policy discourses from each nominee; the next year six discourses were tested and one imperial policy question; summoned tests, appointments, and favors followed the old system. Right Remonstrance Liu Anshi said, "Ancestors stored academy appointees among outstanding talents to discipline integrity, had them read ancient and modern books to sharpen intelligence, favored their stipends slightly, and did not charge them with clerk work—to grow virtue and produce famous ministers. Recently selection has grown lighter—through hereditary reward, military merit, repaying wealth-gathering, or powerful patrons' recommendations. Many obtained attached appointments without examination, opening doors of favor—perhaps not the ancestors' intent. I hope the chief ministers will be clearly ordered to seek literary learning and conduct, confirm candidates can be nurtured, then summon them for examination; without examination they must not be appointed, so that office carries weight and worthies advance. In the third year an edict ordered that great ministers' memorial recommendations for academy appointments follow the old summoned test and appointment; only special court appointments were excepted. Anshi memorialized again, "In ancestors' time entry to the academy rarely bypassed examination. Only when reputation was established, achievements clear, or after repeated embassies or great frontier commands, to show favor, was attached appointment granted without test. Now having accepted my words and restored the old system, yet also saying 'court special appointments are not within this limit'— then regardless of talent or qualification, anyone not memorial-recommended may be directly appointed—called reform yet the source of abuse remains. I wish to imitate precedent: only at qualification of transport commissioner may special appointment be made, to block opportunism and weight academy selection."

紹聖初，哲宗謂：「製科試策，對時政得失，進士策亦可言。」因詔罷製科。既而三省言：「今進士純用經術。如詔誥、章表、箴銘、賦頌、赦敕、檄書、露布、誡諭，其文皆朝廷官守日用不可闕，且無以兼收文學博異之士。」遂改置宏詞科，歲許進士及第者詣禮部請試，如見守官則受代乃請，率以春試上舍生附試，不自立院也。試章表、露布、檄書用駢儷體，頌、箴銘、誡諭、序記用古體或駢儷，惟詔誥、赦敕不以為題。凡試二日四題，試者雖多，取毋過五人，中程則上之三省復試之，分上、中二等，推恩有差；詞藝超異者，奏取旨命官。大觀四年詔：「宏詞科格法未詳，不足以致文學之士，改立詞學兼茂科，歲附貢士院試，取毋過三人。」政和增為五人。不試檄書，增制誥，以歷代史事借擬為之，中格則授館職。宰臣執政親屬毋得試。宣和罷試上舍，乃隨進士試於禮部。

Early in Shaosheng Zhezong said, "Decree subjects' policy tests address current affairs; jinshi policy answers may do the same. An edict therefore abolished decree subjects. Soon the Three Departments said, "Jinshi now use classic studies purely. Yet edicts, memorials, admonitions, eulogies, rhapsodies, amnesties, proclamations, bulletins, and warnings are daily indispensable to officials, and classic studies alone cannot gather literary and erudite talent together. The erudite words subject was established; yearly jinshi graduates might request testing at the Ministry of Rites; incumbents requested after replacement; mostly upper-hall students tested in spring attached to the tribute compound. Memorials, bulletins, and proclamations were tested in parallel style; eulogies, admonitions, warnings, prefaces, and records in ancient or parallel style; edicts and amnesties were not topics. Examinations lasted two days with four topics; however many candidates, no more than five were taken; those meeting standard were re-tested by the Three Departments in upper and middle grades with differing favors; the exceptionally outstanding were memorialized for imperial appointment. In the fourth year of Daguan an edict said the erudite words regulations were insufficient and the erudite learning combined with richness subject was established, tested yearly at the tribute compound with no more than three selected. Under Zhenghe it increased to five. Proclamations were not tested; edict drafts were added using borrowed scenarios from historical dynasties; passing candidates received academy appointments. Kin of chief ministers in power might not test. Under Xuanhe upper-hall testing was abolished and candidates followed jinshi to test at the Ministry of Rites.

紹興元年，初復館職試，凡預召者，學士院試時務策一道，天子親覽焉。然是時校書多不試，而正字或試或否。二年，詔舉賢良方正能直言極諫科，一遵舊制，自尚書兩省諫議大夫以上、御史中丞、學士、待制各舉一人。凡應詔者，先具所著策、論五十篇繳進，兩省侍從參考之，分為三等，次優以上，召赴秘閣，試論六首，於《九經》、《十七史》、《七書》、《國語》、《荀揚管子》、《文中子》內出題，學士兩省官考校，御史監之，四通以上為合格。仍分五等，入四等以上者，天子親策之。第三等為上，恩數視廷試第一人，第四等為中，視廷試第三人，皆賜製科出身；第五等為下，視廷試第四人，賜進士出身；不入等者與簿尉差遣，已仕者則進官與升擢。七年，以太陽有異。令中外侍從各舉能直言極諫一人。是冬，呂祉舉選人胡銓，汪藻舉布衣劉度，即除銓樞密院編修官，而度不果召。自是詔書數下，未有應者。

In the first year of Shaoxing academy tests were first restored; the summoned took one current-affairs policy question at the Hanlin Academy for the emperor's personal review. Yet collators often were not tested while rectifiers sometimes were and sometimes were not. In the second year the worthy and upright able to remonstrate directly subject was issued an edict following the old system; from remonstrance grandees, vice censor, academicians, and awaiting draft appointees each recommended one person. Respondents first submitted fifty policy discourses; attendants graded them in three ranks; those of next grade excellent and above were summoned to the Secret Pavilion for six discourses drawn from the Nine Classics, Seventeen Histories, Seven Military Classics, Discourses, Xunzi, Yangzi, Guanzi, and Wenzhongzi, examined under censor supervision with four passes qualifying. Five grades were used; fourth grade and above received personal questioning by the emperor. Third grade ranked highest with favors like the palace examination top graduate; fourth grade middle like the third graduate; all received decree-subject origin; fifth grade lowest like the fourth palace graduate, granted jinshi origin; those not graded received registrar and vice commissioner assignments; incumbents advanced in rank. In the seventh year because the sun showed an anomaly, inner and outer attendants were each ordered to recommend one who could remonstrate directly. That winter Lü Zhi recommended Hu Quan and Wang Zao recommended Liu Du; Quan was appointed Hanlin compiler but Du was not summoned. Edicts were repeatedly issued thereafter, yet none responded.

孝宗乾道二年，苗昌言奏：「國初嘗立三科，真宗增至六科，仁宗時並許布衣應詔，於是名賢出焉。請參稽前製，間歲下詔，權於正文出題，不得用僻書注疏，追復天聖十科，開廣薦揚之路，振起多士積年委靡之氣。」遂詔禮部集館職、學官雜議，皆曰：「注疏誠可略，科目不必廣。天下之士，屏處山林，滯跡遐遠，侍從之臣，豈能盡知。」遂如國初之制，止令監司、守臣解送。

In the second year of Qiandao under Xiaozong Miao Changyan said, "At the founding three subjects were established, Zhenzong increased them to six, and Renzong permitted commoners to respond—then famous worthies emerged. He asked to consult precedents, issue edicts every other year, set topics from main texts without obscure commentaries, restore Tiansheng's ten subjects, open recommendation paths, and rouse scholars' long listlessness. The Ministry of Rites gathered academy and school officials to discuss; all said commentaries might be abbreviated and subjects need not be broad. Scholars hide in mountains and distant places—how can attendants know them all? As at the founding, only supervisory commissioners and prefects were to send candidates up.

七年，詔舉製科以六論，增至五通為合格，始命官、糊名、謄錄如故事。試院言：「文卷多不知題目所出，有僅及二通者。」帝命賜束帛罷之，舉官皆放罪。舊試六題，一明一暗。時考官命題多暗僻，失求言之意，臣僚請遵天聖、元祐故事，以經題為第一篇，然後雜出《九經》、《語》、《孟》內注疏或子史正文，以見尊經之意。從之。初，製科取士必以三年，十一年，詔：「自今有合召試者，舉官即以名聞。」明年春，李巘言：「賢良之舉，本求讜言以裨闕政，未聞責以記誦之學，使才行學識如晁、董之倫，雖注疏未能盡記，於治道何損？」帝以為然，乃復罷注疏。

In the seventh year decree subjects used six discourses with five passes qualifying; officials, sealed names, and transcription followed precedent. The compound reported many did not know topic sources and some reached only two passes. The emperor ordered silk given and dismissal; recommending officials were all punished. Formerly six questions were tested, one clear and one hidden. Examiners' topics were often obscure, losing the intent of seeking words; officials asked to follow Tian Sheng and Yuanyou precedent with a classic as first question then mix from classics, Analects, Mencius, commentaries, or histories to honor the classics. Approved. Initially decree subjects were triennial; in the eleventh year an edict said when fit for summoned test the recommender should immediately report the name. Next spring Li Yan said worthy upright recommendation seeks candid words for government, not memorization—if talent like Chao or Dong lacked full memorization of commentaries, what harm to governance? The emperor agreed and commentaries were again abolished.

高宗立博學宏詞科，凡十二通，制誥、詔表、露布、檄、箴銘、記讚、頌序內雜出六題，分為三場，每場體製一古一今。遇科場年，應命官除歸明、流外、入貲及犯贓人外，公卿子弟之秀者皆得試。先投所業三卷，學士院考之，拔其尤者召試，定為三等。上等轉一官，選人改秩，無出身人賜進士及第，並免召試，除館職。中等減三年磨勘，與堂除，無出身人賜進士出身；下等減二年磨勘，無出身人賜同進士出身：並許召試館職。南渡以來所得之士，多至卿相、翰苑者。

Gaozong established erudite broad learning: twelve passes with six mixed topics among edicts, memorials, bulletins, proclamations, admonitions, records, eulogies, and prefaces in three sessions of ancient and modern forms. In examination years, except ordered officials, returned bright, flow outside, purchased office, and the corrupt, excellent sons of dukes and ministers might test. Three scrolls were submitted first; the Hanlin Academy examined and summoned the best in three grades. Upper grade gained one rank, selection candidates changed rank, those without origin received jinshi with honors, all exempted summoned test and received academy appointments. Middle grade reduced three years merit review with hall appointment; without origin granted jinshi origin; lower grade reduced two years; without origin granted fellow jinshi origin—all might take summoned academy test. Since the southward crossing many who passed reached chief ministers and Hanlin.

理宗嘉熙三年，臣僚奏：「詞科實代王言，久不取人，日就廢弛。蓋試之太嚴，故習之者少。今欲除博學宏詞科從舊三歲一試外，更降等立科。止試文辭，不貴記問。命題止分兩場，引試須有出身人就禮部投狀，獻所業，如試教官例。每一歲附銓闈引試，惟取合格，不必拘額，中選者與堂除教授，已係教官資序及京官不願就教授者，京官減磨勘，選人循一資。他時北門、西掖、南宮舍人之任，則擇文墨超卓者用之。其科目，則去『宏博』二字，止稱詞學科。」從之。淳祐初，罷。景定二年，復嘉熙之制。

In the third year of Jiaxi under Lizong officials said the words subject substitutes for royal words but long went without selections and daily neared abolition. Testing was too strict so few practiced. Besides triennial erudite broad learning they wished to establish a lower subject. Only literary skill would be tested, not memorization. Two sessions only; candidates with origin submitted petitions and work to the Ministry of Rites like school-official tests. Yearly attached to the selection compound without fixed quota; selected received hall professor appointments; capital officials reduced merit review and selection candidates advanced one rank. Later north gate, west assistant, and south palace drafter posts would select outstanding literary talent. The subject dropped 'broad erudite' and was only called words learning subject. Approved. Early in Chunyou it was abolished. In the second year of Jingding the Jiaxi system was restored.

初，內外學官多朝廷特注，後稍令國子監取其舊試藝等格優者用之。熙寧八年，始立教授試法，即舍人院召試大義五道。元豐七年，令諸州無教官，則長吏選在任官上其名，而監學審其可者使兼之。元祐中，罷試法，已而論薦益眾，乃詔須命舉乃得奏。紹聖初，三省立格，中制科及進士甲第、禮部奏名在上三人、府監廣文館第一人、從太學上舍得第，皆不待試，餘召試兩經大義各一道，合格則授教官。元符中，增試三經。政和二年，臣僚言：「元豐召試學官六十人，而所取四人，皆知名之士，故學者厭服。近試率三人取一，今欲十人始取一人，以重其選。」從之。自是或如舊法，中書選注。又嘗員外添置八行應格人為大藩教官，不以蒞職，隨廢。或用元豐試法，更革無常。

Initially school officials inside and out were mostly special court appointments; later the Imperial University gradually selected those excellent in old test arts. In the eighth year of Xining professor testing was first established: the drafters' courtyard summoned candidates for five questions on great meaning. In the seventh year of Yuanfeng prefectures without instructors had chiefs select incumbents and the supervising school approved concurrent service. In Yuanyou testing was abolished; as recommendations increased, ordered recommendation was required before memorial. Early in Shaosheng the Three Departments ruled decree subjects, jinshi first class, Ministry top three, prefectural Guangwen first, and upper-hall graduates need not test; others took two classics great-meaning questions to become instructors. In Yuanfu three classics were added to the test. In the second year of Zhenghe officials said Yuanfeng tested sixty school officials but took four famous scholars, so learners submitted. Recently one in three passed; they wished one in ten to weight selection. Approved. Sometimes the old method returned and the Central Secretariat appointed. Eight-conduct qualifiers were once added as great-prefecture instructors without taking office, soon abolished. Or Yuanfeng testing was used—reforms were inconstant.

高宗初年，復教官試。紹興中，議者謂：「欲為人師，而自獻以求進，非禮也。」乃罷試而自朝廷選差。已而又復之，凡有出身者許應，先具經義、詩、賦各三首赴禮部，乃下省闈，分兩場試之。初任為諸州教官，由是為兩學之選。十五年，從國子監丞文浩所言，於《六經》中取二經，各出兩題，毋拘義式，以貫穿該贍為合格。其後，四川製置司遇類省試年，亦仿禮部附試，自嘉泰元年始。

Early in Gaozong's reign instructor testing was restored. In Shaoxing discussants said wishing to teach others yet presenting oneself to advance was not ritual. Testing was abolished and the court selected appointees. Soon restored: those with origin submitted three classic elucidation, poetry, and rhapsody pieces to the Ministry of Rites, then tested in two sessions at the provincial gate. First appointments were prefectural instructors—the path into both schools. In the fifteenth year following Wen Hao, two classics were chosen from the six with two topics each without formula; comprehensive penetration qualified. Later in classified metropolitan years Sichuan also attached tests like the Ministry, from Jiatai first year.

凡童子十五歲以下，能通經作詩賦，州升諸朝，而天子親試之。其命官、免舉無常格。真宗景德二年，撫州晏殊、大名府薑蓋始以童子召試詩賦，賜殊進士出身，蓋同學究出身。尋復召殊試賦、論，帝嘉其敏贍，授秘書正字。後或罷或復。自仁宗即位，至大觀末，賜出身者僅二十人。

Youths fifteen and under who mastered classics and composed poetry and rhapsody were sent up by prefectures for the emperor's personal test. Appointment and exemption from recommendation had no fixed rule. In Jingde second year of Zhenzong Yan Shu of Fuzhou and Jiang Gai of Daming were first youths summoned for poetry and rhapsody; Shu received jinshi origin and Gai student-research origin. Shu was soon summoned again; the emperor praised his quick talent and appointed him Secretariat rectifier. Later it was sometimes abolished and sometimes restored. From Renzong's enthronement to Daguan's end only about twenty received origin.

建炎二年，明舊制，親試童子，召見朱虎臣，授官賜金帶以寵之。後至者或誦經、史、子、集，或誦御製詩文，或誦兵書、習步射，其命官、免舉，皆臨期取旨，無常格。淳熙中，王克勤始以程文求試。內殿引見，孝宗嘉其警敏，補從事郎，令秘閣讀書。會禮部言：「本朝童子以文稱者，楊億、宋綬、晏殊、李淑，後皆為賢宰相、名侍從。今郡國舉貢，問其所能，不過記誦，宜稍艱其選。」八年，始分為三等：凡全誦《六經》、《孝經》、《語》、《孟》及能文，如《六經》義三道、《語》《孟》義各一道、或賦一道、詩一首為上等，與推恩；誦書外能通一經，為中等，免文解兩次；止能誦《六經》、《語》、《孟》為下等，免文解一次。覆試不合格者，與賜帛。寧宗嘉定十四年，命歲取三人，期以季春集闕下。先試於國子監，而中書復試之，為永製焉。理宗後罷此科，須卓絕能文者，許諸郡薦舉。

In Jianyan second year the old system was clarified; Zhu Huchen was summoned, granted office and a gold belt. Later arrivals recited classics, histories, imperial writings, or military books and archery; appointments followed temporary imperial decisions. In Chunxi Wang Keqin first sought testing with examination essays. At inner audience Xiaozong praised his alertness, made him Attendant Gentleman, and ordered Secret Pavilion study. The Ministry of Rites said youths famous for letters—Yang Yi, Song Shou, Yan Shu, Li Shu—later became chancellors and famous attendants. Now prefectures recommend only memorization—selection should be hardened. In the eighth year three grades were fixed: full recitation of Six Classics, Filial Classic, Analects, and Mencius plus writing—with classic meaning questions, Analects and Mencius meanings, or rhapsody and poem as upper grade with favors; recitation plus one classic penetrated was middle grade, exempting twice from document send-up; only full recitation of Six Classics, Analects, and Mencius was lower grade, exempting once. Those failing re-test received silk. In Jiading fourteenth year of Ningzong three were taken yearly to gather at the capital in late spring. First at the Imperial University, then Central Secretariat re-test—as permanent system. Lizong later abolished this subject; only the exceptionally literary might be recommended.

科目既設，猶慮不能盡致天下之才，或韜晦而不屑就也，往往命州郡搜羅，而公卿得以薦言。若治平之黃君俞，熙寧之王安國，元豐則程頤，元祐則陳師道，元符則徐積，皆卓然較著者也。熙寧三年，諸路搜訪行義為鄉里推重者，凡二十有九人。至，則館之太學，而劉蒙以下二十二人試舍人院，賜官有差，亦足以見幽隱必達，治世之盛也。其後，應詔者多失實，而朝廷亦厭薄之。

Though subjects were established, the court still feared not reaching all talent; prefectures were ordered to search and ministers might recommend the hidden. Such as Huang Junyu in Zhiping, Wang Anguo in Xining, Cheng Yi in Yuanfeng, Chen Shidao in Yuanyou, and Xu Ji in Yuanfu—all outstanding. In Xining third year circuits searched for village-esteemed conduct—twenty-nine persons. They were housed in the Imperial University; Liu Meng and twenty-two others tested at the drafters' courtyard with differing grants—showing hidden talent reached in a flourishing age. Later edict respondents mostly lacked substance and the court grew weary.

高宗垂意遺逸，首召布衣譙定，而尹焞以處士入講筵。其後束帛之聘，若王忠民之忠節，張誌行之高尚，劉勉之、胡憲之力學，則賜出身，俾教授本郡，或賜處士號以寵之。所以振清節，厲頹俗。如徐庭筠之不出，蘇雲卿之晦跡，世尤稱焉。寧宗慶元間，蔡元定以高明之資，講明一代正學，以尤袤、楊萬里之薦召之，固以疾辭，竟以偽學貶死，眾咸惜之。理、度以後，國勢日迫，賢者肥遁，迄無聞焉。

Gaozong attended to unattached worthies, first summoning Qiao Ding while Yin Tun entered the lecture seat as recluse. Later silk appointments honored Wang Zhongmin's loyalty, Zhang Zhixing's loftiness, and Liu Mianzhi and Hu Xian's learning—with origin, home instruction, or recluse titles. This roused pure integrity and encouraged a decadent age. Such as Xu Tingyun not coming forth and Su Yunqing's hidden traces—the age especially praised them. In the Qingyuan era under Ningzong, Cai Yuanding of lofty talent elucidated the correct learning of the age; summoned on recommendation by You Mao and Yang Wanli, he firmly declined on grounds of illness, yet was ultimately demoted and died in the false-learning purge—all regretted it. After Lizong and Duzong the state's situation daily grew desperate; worthies withdrew in seclusion and were heard of no more.

Cite this Chapter