Volume 157 Treatises 110: Selection and appointment of Officials 3

選舉三〈（學校試律學等試附）〉

Selection and Appointment of Officials, Part Three (With appended material on school examinations, law-school examinations, and related tests)

凡學皆隸國子監。國子生，以京朝七品以上子孫為之，初無定員，後以二百人為額。太學生，以八品以下子弟若庶人之俊異者為之。及三舍法行，則太學始定置外舍生二千人，內舍生三百人，上舍生百人。始入學，驗所隸州公據，試補外舍，齋長、諭月書其行藝於籍。行謂率教不戾規矩，藝謂治經程文。季終考於學諭，次學錄，次正，次博士，後考於長貳。歲終會其高下，書於籍，以俟復試，參驗而序進之。凡私試，孟月經義，仲月論，季月策。凡公試，初場經義，次場論策。試上舍，如省試法。凡內舍，行藝與所試之業俱優，為上舍上等，取旨授官；一優一平為中等，以俟殿試；俱平若一優一否為下等，以俟省試。

In general, every school fell under the Directorate of Education. Directorate students were recruited from the descendants of metropolitan officials of the seventh rank and above. There was initially no fixed quota; later it was set at two hundred. Imperial College students came from the sons of officials below the eighth rank, or from exceptionally gifted commoners. Once the Three-Hall system took effect, the Imperial College established fixed quotas of two thousand outer-hall students, three hundred inner-hall students, and one hundred upper-hall students. On first enrollment, students presented the official certificate from their home prefecture, sat an examination for placement in the outer hall, and each month the hall chief and instructor recorded their conduct and academic performance in the register. Conduct meant obeying instruction without breaking regulations; achievement meant proficiency in the classics and in examination essays. At the end of each season students were examined in turn by the instructor, the recorder, the director, the erudite, and finally the senior administrators. At year's end their rankings were compiled and recorded, pending re-examination; after verification, students were promoted in sequence. Private examinations were held as follows: in the first month of each season, exposition of the classics; in the middle month, discursive essays; in the last month, policy questions. Public examinations consisted of a first session on exposition of the classics and a second on discursive essays and policy questions. Upper-hall examinations followed the same procedures as the provincial examinations. For inner-hall students, if both conduct-achievement and examination performance were excellent, they ranked in the upper grade of the upper hall and received appointment by imperial order; one excellent and one fair counted as the middle grade and qualified them to await the palace examination; both fair, or one excellent and one failing, counted as the lower grade and qualified them to await the provincial examination.

元祐間，置廣文館生二千四百人，以待四方遊士試京師者。律學生無定員，他雜學廢置無常。崇寧建辟雍於郊，以處貢士，而三舍考選法乃遍天下。於是由州郡貢之辟雍，由辟雍升之太學，而學校之制益詳。凡國子以奏蔭恩廣，故學校不預考選，其得入官賜出身者，多由銓試。

During the Yuanyou period, two thousand four hundred Broad Learning Hall places were created for scholars from all regions who came to the capital to take examinations. Law-school enrollment had no fixed quota, and other specialized schools were established or abolished at irregular intervals. Under Chongning, the Bright Hall was built in the suburbs to house presented scholars, and the Three-Hall examination and selection system was extended empire-wide. Thereafter prefectures and commanderies presented scholars to the Bright Hall, and from the Bright Hall they advanced to the Imperial College, and the school system became increasingly elaborate. Directorate students generally entered through hereditary privilege, so they did not take part in school-based selection; most who received office or granted status did so through the regular selection examinations.

初，國子監因周舊制，頗增學舍，以應蔭子孫隸學受業。開寶八年，國子監上言：「生徒舊數七十人，奉詔分習《五經》，然係籍者或久不至，而在京進士、諸科，常赴講席肄業，請以補監生之闕。」詔從之。

Initially the Directorate of Education, following the old Zhou model, greatly expanded its buildings to accommodate privileged descendants registered for instruction. In Kaibao 8, the Directorate reported: "The former enrollment was seventy students, assigned by edict to study the 《Five Classics》, yet registered students often stayed away for long periods, while metropolitan degree-holders and candidates of other categories regularly attended lectures. We request that they be allowed to fill vacancies among Directorate students." The throne approved.

景德間，許文武升朝官嫡親附國學取解，而遠鄉久寓京師，其文藝可稱，有本鄉命官保任，監官驗之，亦聽附學充貢。

During Jingde, legitimate sons of civil and military metropolitan officials were permitted to attach to the Directorate to obtain recommendation credentials. Scholars from distant regions long resident in the capital whose literary accomplishment was commendable could also attach for study and candidacy if a commissioned official from their home district vouched for them and Directorate officials verified their credentials.

仁宗時，士之服儒術者不可勝數。即位初，賜兗州學田，已而命藩輔皆得立學。慶曆四年，詔曰：「儒者通天、地、人之理，明古今治亂之原，可謂博矣。然學者不得騁其說，而有司務先聲病章句以拘牽之，則吾豪雋奇偉之士，何以奮焉？士有純明樸茂之美，而無斅學養成之法，使與不肖並進，則夫懿德敏行，何以見焉？此取士之甚敝，而學者自以為患。夫遇人以簿者，不可責其厚也。今朕建學興善，以尊子大夫之行；更製革敝，以盡學者之才。有司其務嚴訓導、精察舉，以稱朕意。學者其進德修業，無失其時。其令州若縣皆立學，本道使者選部屬官為教授，員不足，取於鄉里宿學有道業者。」由是州郡奉詔興學，而士有所勸矣。

Under Emperor Renzong, scholars devoted to Confucian learning were beyond number. Early in his reign he granted school lands to Yanzhou, and soon ordered that all frontier prefectures and circuits might establish schools. In Qingli 4, an edict declared: "Confucian scholars comprehend the principles of Heaven, Earth, and humanity and understand the origins of order and disorder through the ages. Their learning may truly be called broad. Yet when scholars cannot freely develop their ideas, and officials insist on prioritizing tonal rules and textual glosses to constrain them, how can our boldest and most gifted men flourish? When men of pure clarity and plain integrity lack proper methods of study and cultivation, and advance alongside the unworthy, how can excellent virtue and quick conduct ever be recognized? This is a grave defect in recruiting talent, and scholars themselves regard it as a grievance. When men are met with meager provision, one cannot demand richness from them. Now We establish schools and promote goodness to honor the conduct of scholar-officials; We reform institutions and remove abuses so that scholars may fully display their talents. Let officials earnestly enforce instruction and conduct careful selection, in accord with Our intent. Let scholars advance in virtue and cultivate their studies without missing their proper season. Let every prefecture and county establish schools. Circuit commissioners shall select subordinate officials as instructors; where quotas are insufficient, they shall recruit men of long-standing learning and moral attainment from the local community. Thereupon prefectures and commanderies obeyed the edict and established schools, and scholars found new encouragement.

天章閣侍講王洙言：「國子監每科場詔下，許品官子役然試藝，給牒充廣文、太學、律學三館學生，多致千餘。就試試已，則生徒散歸，講官倚席，但為遊寓之所，殊無肄習之法。居常聽講者，一二十人爾。」乃限在學滿五百日，舊已嘗充貢者止百日。本授官會其實，京朝官保任，始預秋試，每十人與解三人。凡入學授業，月旦即親書到曆。如遇私故或疾告、歸寧，皆給假，違程及期月不來參者，去其籍。後諫官余靖極言非便，遂罷聽讀日限。

Wang Zhu, academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion, reported: "Whenever an examination-cycle edict was issued, sons of ranked officials were permitted to test their arts and receive certificates as students of the Broad Learning Hall, Imperial College, and Law School—often more than a thousand in all. Once examinations ended, students dispersed, lecturers sat idle, and the halls became mere lodging places with no real method of sustained study. Those who regularly attended lectures numbered only a dozen or twenty. A requirement was then imposed of five hundred days in residence; those who had previously served as examination candidates needed only one hundred days. Their original appointments were verified, metropolitan officials vouched for them, and only then could they enter the autumn examination, with three recommendations granted for every ten candidates. All who entered to receive instruction personally recorded their attendance in the register on the first of each month. Leave was granted for private affairs, illness, or visits home; those who exceeded the permitted period and failed to return within a month were struck from the register. Later the remonstrance official Yu Jing strongly objected, and the residency requirement for attendance was abolished.

初立四門學，自八品至庶人子弟充學生，歲一試補。差學官鎖宿、彌封校其藝，疏名上聞而後給牒，不中式者仍聽讀，若三試不中，則出之。未幾，學廢。

The Four Gates School was first established, enrolling sons from the eighth rank down through commoners, with annual examinations for replenishment. School officials sealed the examination quarters, sealed the papers, and graded candidates' work; names were submitted to the throne before certificates were issued. Those who failed might continue study, but after three failures they were expelled. Before long the school was abolished.

時太學之法寬簡，而上之人必求天下賢士，使專教導規矩之事。安定胡瑗設教蘇、湖間二十餘年，世方尚詞賦，湖學獨立經義治事齋，以敦實學。皇祐末，召瑗為國子監直講，數年，進天章閣侍講，猶兼學正。其初人未信服，謗議蜂起，瑗強力不倦，卒以有立。每公私試罷，掌儀率諸生會於首善，雅樂歌詩，乙夜乃散。士或不遠數千里來就師之，皆中心悅服。有司請下湖學，取其法以教太學。

At that time Imperial College regulations were lenient, yet the court insisted on finding worthy men throughout the realm to devote themselves to teaching rules and standards. Hu Yuan of Anding taught in the Suzhou-Huzhou region for more than twenty years. While the age still prized rhapsodies and fu, his Huzhou school alone established halls for classical exegesis and practical administration to promote solid learning. At the end of Huangyou, Yuan was summoned as lecturer of the Directorate; after several years he was promoted to academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion while retaining his post as director of study. At first he was not widely trusted; criticism swarmed, but Yuan pressed on tirelessly and in the end won acceptance. After each private or public examination, the master of ceremonies led students to assemble at the Hall of First Excellence for refined music and poetry, and they did not disperse until the second watch of night. Some scholars traveled thousands of li to study under him, and all were inwardly devoted to him. The authorities requested that the Huzhou school's methods be adopted for teaching at the Imperial College.

神宗尤垂意儒學，自京師至郡縣，既皆有學。歲時月各有試，程其藝能，以差次升舍，其最優者為上舍，免發解及禮部試而特賜之第。遂專以此取士。

Emperor Shenzong especially devoted attention to Confucian learning, and schools had been established from the capital down to prefectures and counties. Examinations were held throughout the year; students were graded and promoted hall by hall, and the most excellent became upper-hall students, exempt from prefectural recommendation and Ministry of Rites examinations and specially granted degrees. Thereafter recruitment of officials relied exclusively on this system.

太學生員，慶曆嘗置內舍生二百人。熙寧初，又增百人，尋詔通額為九百人。四年，盡以錫慶院及朝集院西廡建講書堂四，諸生齋舍、掌事者直廬始僅足用。自主判官外，增置直講為十員，率二員共講一經，令中書遴選，或主判官奏舉。生員厘為三等：始入學為外舍，初不限員，後定額七百人；外舍升內舍，員二百；內舍升上舍，員百。各執一經，從所講官受學，月考試其業，優等上之中書。其正、錄、學諭，以上舍生為之，經各二員；學行卓異者，主判、直講復薦之中書，奏除官。始命諸州置學官，率給田十頃贍士。初置小學教授。帝嘗謂王安石曰：「今談經者人人殊，何以一道德？卿所著經，其以頒行，使學者歸一。」八年，頒王安石《書》、《詩》、《周禮義》於學官，是名《三經新義》。

Imperial College enrollment: during Qingli, two hundred inner-hall places had been established. Early in Xining another hundred were added; soon an edict fixed the total quota at nine hundred. In the fourth year, four lecture halls were built using the Xiqing Courtyard and the western wing of the Chaoji Courtyard; student dormitories and staff quarters finally barely met demand. Apart from the chief administrator, ten lecturers were added, generally two jointly lecturing on one classic. The Secretariat was to select them, or the chief administrator might recommend candidates by memorial. Students were divided into three grades: on first entering they were outer-hall students; initially there was no quota, later fixed at seven hundred; promotion from outer to inner hall, quota two hundred; promotion from inner to upper hall, quota one hundred. Each specialized in one classic and studied under its assigned lecturer; monthly examinations were held, and excellent students were reported to the Secretariat. Directors, recorders, and instructors were drawn from upper-hall students, two per classic; those of outstanding learning and conduct were again recommended by the chief administrator and lecturers to the Secretariat for appointment to office. School officials were first ordered established in all prefectures, generally with ten qing of fields granted to support students. Elementary-school instructors were first established. The emperor once said to Wang Anshi: "Today those who expound the classics all differ from one another. How can moral teaching be unified? Issue the classics you have authored so that scholars may return to a single standard." In the eighth year, Wang Anshi's 《Exegesis of the Documents》, 《Exegesis of the Odes》, and 《Exegesis of the Rites of Zhou》 were issued to school officials under the title 《New Exegeses of the Three Classics》.

元豐二年，頒《學令》：太學置八十齋，齋各五楹，容三十人。外舍生二千人，內舍生三百人，上舍生百人。月一私試，歲一公試，補內舍生；間歲一舍試，補上舍生，彌封、謄錄如貢舉法；而上舍試則學官不預考校。公試，外舍生入第一、第二等，升內舍；內舍生試入優、平二等，升上舍：皆參考所書行藝乃升。上舍分三等。學正增為五人，學錄增為十人，學錄參以學生為之。歲賜緡錢至二萬五千，又取郡縣田租、屋課、息錢之類，增為學費。初，以國子名監，而實未嘗教養國子。詔許清要官親戚入監聽讀，額二百人，仍盡以開封府解額歸太學，其國子生解額，以太學分數取之，毋過四十人。

In the second year of Yuanfeng, the 《School Regulations》 were issued: the Imperial College established eighty halls, each of five bays and holding thirty students. There were two thousand outer-hall students, three hundred inner-hall students, and one hundred upper-hall students. Monthly private examinations and annual public examinations replenished inner-hall students; every other year a hall examination replenished upper-hall students, with sealed papers and transcription following presented-candidate procedures; but for upper-hall examinations school officials did not participate in grading. In public examinations, outer-hall students who placed in the first or second grade were promoted to the inner hall; inner-hall students who placed in the excellent or fair grades were promoted to the upper hall—all promotions required reference to recorded conduct and achievement. The upper hall was divided into three grades. Directors of study were increased to five and recorders to ten; some recorders were drawn from among the students. Annual cash grants reached twenty-five thousand strings; prefectural and county land rents, building levies, interest funds, and similar revenues were also allocated to augment school expenses. Although it was called the Directorate of the Sons of the State, in fact it had never truly nurtured them. An edict permitted relatives of eminent officials to enter the Directorate to attend lectures, with a quota of two hundred. All Kaifeng recommendation quotas were transferred to the Imperial College; Directorate student quotas were drawn from Imperial College places, not exceeding forty.

哲宗時，初置在京小學，曰：「就傅」、「初筮」，凡兩齋。復取太學額百人還開封府。先是，開封解額稍優，四方士子多冒畿縣戶，又隸太學不及一年不該解試者，亦往往冒戶。禮部按舊制，凡試國子監者，先補中廣文館生，乃投牒求試。元祐七年，遂依仿其法，立廣文館生。惟開封府元解百人許自試，其嘗取諸科二百、國子額四十者，皆以為本館解額。遇貢舉年試補館生，中者執牒詣國子監驗試，凡試者十人取一，開封考取亦如之。紹興元年，罷廣文館，其額悉復還之開封府、國子監。

Under Emperor Zhezong, an elementary school was first established in the capital with two halls called "Approaching the Tutor" and "First Divination." One hundred Imperial College places were returned to Kaifeng Prefecture. Previously Kaifeng's recommendation quota had been relatively generous; scholars from all regions often falsely registered in metropolitan county households, and those registered at the Imperial College for less than a year who were ineligible for recommendation also frequently did so. The Ministry of Rites followed the old system: all who tested at the Directorate first had to be placed in the Broad Learning Hall before submitting petitions to seek examination. In Yuanyou 7, this method was imitated and Broad Learning Hall places were established. Only Kaifeng Prefecture's original quota of one hundred was permitted to test independently; the two hundred formerly taken from various categories and the forty Directorate places were all counted as the hall's recommendation quota. In examination years, hall students were tested for replenishment; those who passed took certificates to the Directorate for verification, with one selected for every ten candidates. Kaifeng selection followed the same rule. In Shaoxing 1, the Broad Learning Hall was abolished and its quotas entirely restored to Kaifeng Prefecture and the Directorate.

元祐新令，罷推恩之制。紹聖初，監察御史郭知章言：「先帝立三舍法，以歲月稽其行實，故入上舍而中上等者，得不經禮部試，特命以官。責備而持久，故其得也難，誘掖激勸，莫善於此。宜復元豐法，以廣樂育之德。」又請三學補外舍生，依元豐令一歲四試。於是詔：「太學生悉用元豐製推恩，上等即注官者，歲毋過二人；免禮部試者，每舉五人而止；免解試者二十人而止。仍計數對除省試發解額，其元祐法勿用。諸三舍升補等法，悉推行舊制。」

The new Yuanyou regulations abolished the system of conferred favor. Early in Shaosheng, Supervising Censor Guo Zhizhang said: "The late emperor established the Three-Hall system to verify conduct and achievement over months and years. Therefore those who entered the upper hall and placed in the upper grade could skip the Ministry of Rites examination and receive office by special order. Requirements were strict and enduring, so attainment was difficult; for guidance and encouragement nothing served better. The Yuanfeng system should be restored to broaden the court's virtue in nurturing talent. He also requested that replenishment of outer-hall students in the three schools follow the Yuanfeng rule of four examinations per year. An edict then declared: "Imperial College students would again receive office under the Yuanfeng system of conferred favor, with no more than two upper-grade appointees registered for office each year; exemptions from the Ministry of Rites examination were capped at five per round; exemptions from the recommendation examination were capped at twenty. These numbers were still counted against metropolitan-examination and recommendation quotas, and the Yuanyou rules were abolished. All Three-Hall rules on advancement and replenishment were to be fully restored under the former system."

三年，三省言：「元祐試補太學生不嚴，苟務多取，後試者無闕可撥，宜遵元豐初製，雖在籍生亦重試。」乃詔在籍生再試，許取三分，創求補者半之；惟上舍生及是年充貢員內舍、外舍先自元豐補入者免再試，餘非再試而中者皆降舍。蔡京上所修《內外學製》，始頒諸天下。

In Shaosheng 3, the Three Departments reported: "Yuanyou placement exams for Imperial College students had been too lax. In taking too many candidates, later examinees were left without vacancies. The early Yuanfeng system should be restored, and even students already on the register should be re-examined. An edict then required registered students to be re-examined, with thirty percent permitted to pass; for new applicants seeking placement, the pass rate was set at half that; Only upper-hall students and inner- and outer-hall students filling that year's presentation quota who had originally entered under Yuanfeng rules were exempt from re-examination. All others who passed without re-examination were demoted to a lower hall. Cai Jing submitted the 《Regulations for Inner and Outer Schools》 he had compiled, and it was promulgated throughout the empire for the first time.

元符元年，詔許命官補國子生，毋過四十人。凡太學試，令優取《二禮》，許占全額之半，而以其半及他經。復置《春秋》博士。二年，初令諸州行三舍法，考選、升補，悉如太學。州許補上舍一人，內舍二人，歲貢之。其上舍附太學外舍，試中補內舍生，三試不升舍，遣還其州。其內舍免試，至則補為外舍生。諸路選監司一員提舉學校，守貳董幹其事。遇補試上、內舍生，選有出身官一人，同教授考選，須彌封、謄錄。三年，太學試補外舍改用四季，學官自考，不謄錄，仍添試論一場。

In Yuanfu 1, an edict allowed appointed officials to be placed as Directorate students, with a cap of forty. In Imperial College examinations, candidates specializing in the 《Two Rites》 were given preference and allowed to take up half the total quota; the remaining half went to other classics. The post of erudite for the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》 was reinstated. In Yuanfu 2, prefectures were first required to adopt the Three-Hall system, with examination, selection, advancement, and replenishment all following Imperial College practice. Each prefecture could replenish one upper-hall and two inner-hall student, who were presented to the capital each year. Upper-hall students from the prefectures were attached to the Imperial College outer hall. Those who passed were placed in the inner hall; after three failed attempts at advancement, they were sent back to their home prefecture. Inner-hall students from the prefectures were exempt from examination and, upon arrival, were placed directly in the outer hall. Each circuit appointed one intendant-supervisor to oversee its schools, with the prefect and vice-prefect directing the work. When replenishment exams were held for upper- and inner-hall students, one official with examination credentials was appointed to examine jointly with the professor, with sealed papers and transcription required. In Yuanfu 3, outer-hall replenishment exams at the Imperial College were changed to four sessions per year. School officials examined candidates themselves without transcription, and a discourse examination was added.

崇寧元年，宰臣請：「天下州縣並置學，州置教授二員，縣亦置小學。縣學生選考升諸州學，州學生每三年貢太學。至則附試，別立號。考分三等：入上等補上舍，入中等補下等上舍，入下等補內舍，餘居外舍。諸州軍解額，各以三分之一充貢士。開封府留五十五額，解土人之不入學者，餘盡均給諸州，以為貢額。外官子弟親戚，許入學一年，給牒至太學，用國子生額解試。州給常平或係省田宅充養士費，縣用地利所出及非係省錢。」三年，始定諸路增養縣學弟子員，大縣五十人，中縣四十人，小縣三十人。凡州縣學生曾經公、私試者復其身，內舍免戶役，上舍仍免借借如官戶法。

In Chongning 1, chief ministers requested: "Schools should be established in every prefecture and county in the empire. Each prefecture would have two professors, and each county would also establish an elementary school. County students would advance to prefectural schools through competitive examination, and prefectural students would be presented to the Imperial College every three years. Upon arrival they would sit attached examinations under separate registration numbers. Examinations were ranked in three grades: the top tier entered the upper hall, the middle tier entered the lower tier of the upper hall, the bottom tier entered the inner hall, and the rest remained in the outer hall. Each prefecture and military command was to allocate one-third of its recommendation quota to presented scholars. Kaifeng Prefecture kept fifty-five quotas for recommending local residents not enrolled in schools; the rest was evenly distributed among the prefectures as presentation quotas. Children and relatives of officials serving outside the capital were allowed one year of enrollment, issued certificates to proceed to the Imperial College, and permitted to use Directorate-student quotas for the recommendation examination. Prefectures funded student support from Ever-Normal Granary funds or centrally administered fields and dwellings; counties drew on local revenue and non-centrally administered funds. In Chongning 3, enrollment quotas for expanded county schools were first fixed across all circuits: fifty for large counties, forty for medium counties, and thirty for small counties. Prefectural and county students who had passed public or private examinations were exempt from personal corvée. Inner-hall students were exempt from household labor service, and upper-hall students remained exempt from levies and assessments under the official-household law.

命將作少監李誡，即城南門外相地營建外學，是為辟雍。蔡京又奏：「古者國內外皆有學，周成均蓋在邦中，而黨庠、遂序則在國外。臣親承聖詔，天下皆興學貢士，即國南郊建外學以受之，俟其行藝中率，然後升諸太學。凡此聖意，悉與古合。今上其所當行者：太學專處上舍、內舍生，而外學則處外舍生。今貢士盛集，欲增太學上舍至三百人，內舍六百人，外舍三千人。外學為四講堂、百齋，齋列五楹，一齋可容三十人。士初貢至，皆入外學，經試補入上舍、內舍，始得進處太學。太學外舍，亦令出居外學。其敕、令、格、式，悉用太學見製。國子祭酒總治學事，外學官屬，司業、丞各一人，稍減太學博士、正、錄員歸外學，仍增博士為十員，正、錄為五員，學生充學諭者十人，直學二人。」三舍生皆繇升貢，遂罷國子監補試。

Vice Director of the Palace Domestic Office Li Jie was ordered to select a site outside the southern city gate and build the outer academy, known as the Bright Hall. Cai Jing further memorialized: "In antiquity schools existed both inside and outside the capital. The Zhou State Academy stood within the realm, while village schools and district schools lay beyond it. I have personally received Your Majesty's edict to establish schools and present scholars throughout the empire. An outer academy is therefore being built in the southern suburbs to receive them, and once their conduct and achievement reach the required standard, they will advance to the Imperial College. All of this imperial design accords entirely with ancient practice. He now submitted the measures to be implemented: the Imperial College would house only upper- and inner-hall students, while the outer academy would house outer-hall students. With presented scholars now gathering in great numbers, he proposed raising Imperial College enrollment to three hundred upper-hall students, six hundred inner-hall students, and three thousand outer-hall students. The outer academy would have four lecture halls and one hundred dormitory halls, each hall comprising five bays and accommodating thirty students. Scholars newly presented from the provinces would all enter the outer academy first; only after passing examinations and placement in the upper or inner hall could they advance to the Imperial College. Imperial College outer-hall students were also required to move out and reside in the outer academy. Its edicts, orders, regulations, and forms would all follow the Imperial College's existing system. The Chancellor of the Directorate would oversee all academic affairs. The outer academy would have one Vice Director and one Assistant. Some Imperial College posts of erudite, director, and recorder would be transferred to the outer academy, with erudites increased to ten, directors and recorders to five, ten students serving as instructors, and two as direct students. Since Three-Hall students all entered through advancement and presentation, the Directorate placement examination was abolished.

又置諸王宮大、小學教授，立考選法，凡奉祠及仕而解官或需次者，悉許入內、外學。任子不係州土，隨所寓入學，仍別齋居處，別號試考。曾升補三舍生，後從獻助得官，其入學視任子法。凡任子，不問文武，須隸學滿一年，始得求試。乃詔取士悉由學校升貢，其州郡發解及試禮部並罷。自是，歲試上舍，悉差知舉，如禮部試。

Professors were also appointed for the great and small schools of the princely palaces, and examination-and-selection regulations were established. Holders of sacrificial appointments and those who had left office or were awaiting appointment were all permitted to enter the inner and outer academies. Sons by office privilege not tied to a native prefecture could enroll wherever they resided, but were housed in separate halls, assigned separate registration numbers, and examined separately. Those who had once advanced as Three-Hall students and later gained office through charitable contribution were subject to the sons-by-privilege rules upon re-enrollment. All sons by privilege, civil or military alike, had to remain enrolled in school for a full year before they could sit for examination. An edict then declared that all recruitment of scholars would proceed through school advancement and presentation, abolishing both prefectural recommendation and the Ministry of Rites examination. From this point on, chief examiners were appointed for the annual upper-hall examination, following Ministry of Rites practice.

五年，著令：

In Chongning 5, regulations were codified:

凡縣學生隸學已及三月，不犯上二等罰，聽次年試補州學外舍，是名「歲升」。開封祥符生員，即辟雍別為齋，教養、升進如縣學法。願入鄰縣學者聽。惟赤縣校試，主以博士。每歲正月，州以公試上舍及歲升員，一院鎖宿，分為三試。其公試，上舍率十取其六為中格；中格已，以其名第自上而下參考察之籍；既在籍，又中選，即六人之中取其四，以差升舍。其歲升中選者，得補外舍生。開封屬縣附辟雍別試，中者入辟雍充外舍。隸學三年，經兩試不預升貢，即除其籍，法涉太嚴。今令三年內三經公試不預選，兩經補內舍、貢上舍不及格，且曾犯三等以上罰，若外舍，即除籍罷歸縣，內舍降外舍，已嘗降而私試不入等，若曾犯罰，亦除籍，再赴歲升試。

County students enrolled for at least three months without incurring penalties of the two highest grades were permitted the following year to sit the replenishment exam for the prefectural school outer hall. This was called "annual advancement." Students of Xiangfu in Kaifeng were assigned separate halls in the Bright Hall, with nurturing, instruction, and advancement following county-school rules. Students wishing to enroll in a neighboring county school were permitted to do so. Only metropolitan-county school examinations were administered chiefly by erudites. Each year in the first month, the prefecture gathered upper-hall public-examination candidates and annual-advancement candidates in one sealed compound and divided the examination into three sessions. In the public examination, six of every ten upper-hall candidates constituted the passing standard; once that standard was met, their names and ranks were cross-referenced from top to bottom against the merit-review register; those both on the register and selected then had four of every six chosen for differential hall advancement. Those selected through annual advancement were placed in the outer hall. Counties subordinate to Kaifeng sat separate attached examinations at the Bright Hall; those who passed entered the Bright Hall as outer-hall students. After three years of enrollment, students who failed to qualify for advancement and presentation in two examinations were struck from the register; the rule was considered too harsh. The new rule provided: within three years, outer-hall students who failed to qualify in three public examinations, or failed twice in inner-hall replenishment or upper-hall presentation and had incurred penalties of the third grade or above, were struck from the register and sent back to their county. Inner-hall students were demoted to the outer hall. Those already demoted who failed to place in a private examination, or who had incurred penalties, were also struck from the register and had to retake the annual-advancement examination.

凡州學上舍生升舍，以其秋即貢入辟雍，長吏集闔郡官及提學官，具宴設以禮敦遣，限歲終悉集闕下。自川、廣、福建入貢者，給借職券，過二千里給大將券，續其路食，皆以學錢給之。如有孝弟、睦姻、任恤、忠和，若行能尤異為鄉里所推，縣上之州，免試入學。州守貳若教授詢審無謬，即保任入貢，具實以聞，不實者坐罪有差。

When prefectural upper-hall students advanced in hall, they were presented to the Bright Hall that autumn. The chief administrator gathered all county officials and the school intendant, hosted a farewell banquet, and required all to reach the capital by year's end. Presented scholars from Sichuan, Guang, and Fujian were issued temporary-rank certificates; beyond two thousand li they received great-general travel certificates. Travel provisions were supplied throughout, all paid from school funds. Those displaying filial piety and fraternal duty, harmonious kinship, responsibility, and loyalty and harmony, or whose conduct and ability were exceptionally outstanding and recommended by their community, were reported by the county to the prefecture and admitted to school without examination. If the prefect, vice-prefect, or professor verified the facts and found no error, they guaranteed the candidate for presentation and reported accordingly. False reports were punished according to degree.

太學試上舍生，本慮與科舉相並，試以間歲。今既罷科舉，又諸州歲貢士，其改用歲試。每春季，太學、辟雍生悉公試，同院混取，總五百七十四人。以四十七人為上等，即推恩釋褐；一百四十人為中等，遇親策士許入試；一百八十七人為下等，補內舍生。凡上等上舍生暨特舉孝弟行能之士，不待廷試推恩者，許即引見釋褐。上舍仍先以試文卷進入，得可乃引賜。若上舍已該釋褐恩，而貢入在廷試前一年者，須在學又及半年，不犯上二等罰，乃得注官。

Imperial College upper-hall examinations had originally been held every other year for fear of conflicting with the civil-service examinations. Now that the civil-service examinations had been abolished and prefectures presented scholars each year, the examination was changed to an annual test. Each spring, Imperial College and Bright Hall students sat public examinations together in one compound, with five hundred seventy-four selected in all. Forty-seven were ranked in the upper grade and immediately received conferred favor and donned official robes; one hundred forty were ranked in the middle grade and, when the palace examination with imperial questioning was held, were permitted to sit for it; one hundred eighty-seven were ranked in the lower grade and were placed in the inner hall. Upper-grade upper-hall students and men specially recommended for filial piety, fraternal duty, and ability who did not await palace-examination conferred favor were permitted immediate audience and donning of official robes. Upper-hall students still had to submit their examination essays for review first; only upon approval were they granted audience and conferred favor. If an upper-hall student was already eligible for donning-office favor but was presented in the year before the palace examination, he had to remain in school for another six months without incurring penalties of the two highest grades before he could be registered for office.

凡貢士入辟雍外舍，三經試不與升補，兩經試不入等，仍犯上三等罰者，削籍再赴本州歲升試，是名「退送」。即內舍已降舍，而又一試不與，或兩犯上四等罰者，亦如外舍法退送。太學外舍生巳預考察者，許再經一試，以中否為留遣，餘升降、退送悉如辟雍法。

Presented scholars entering the Bright Hall outer hall who failed to qualify for advancement in three examinations, or failed to place in two examinations while incurring penalties of the three highest grades, were struck from the register and sent back to retake their home prefecture's annual-advancement examination. This was called "return and dispatch." Inner-hall students already demoted in hall who failed one more examination, or who incurred penalties of the four highest grades twice, were likewise returned and dispatched under the outer-hall rule. Imperial College outer-hall students already entered in the merit-review register were allowed one further examination, with pass or fail determining whether they stayed or were dismissed. All other advancement, demotion, and return-and-dispatch followed Bright Hall rules.

凡有官人不入學而願試貢士者，不以文、武、雜出身，悉許之，惟贓私罪廢人則否。應試者，隨內外附貢士公試，皆別考，率以七人取一人。即預貢者，與辟雍春試貢士通考。中選入上等者，升差遣兩等，賜上舍出身；文行優者，奏聞而殊擢之。中等俟殿試，下等補內舍，不隸學，需再試。已仕在官而願試者，悉準此制。

Appointed officials who did not enroll in school but wished to test as presented scholars were permitted regardless of civil, military, or miscellaneous credentials. Only persons disqualified for corruption or private offenses were excluded. Candidates attached to the inner or outer academies sat the presented scholars' public examination separately, with one selected for every seven on average. Pre-presented candidates were examined jointly with Bright Hall spring-examination presented scholars. Those ranked in the upper grade received promotion two grades in appointment and were granted upper-hall credentials; those outstanding in literary accomplishment and conduct were memorialized to the throne and specially promoted. The middle grade awaited the palace examination; the lower grade was placed in the inner hall without formal enrollment and had to sit for re-examination. Those already serving in office who wished to test were all subject to this system.

凡在外官同居小功以上親，及其親姊妹女之夫，皆得為隨行親，免試入所任鄰州郡學。其有官人願學於本州者，亦免試，升補悉如諸生法，混試同考，惟升舍不侵諸生額，自用七人取一。若中者多，即以溢額名次理為考察。若所親移替，願改籍他州學者聽。

Relatives within mourning-grade xiaogong and above living together with officials serving outside the capital, and the husbands of their sisters and daughters, could serve as accompanying relatives and enter the neighboring prefectural school of the official's post without examination. Officials wishing to study in their home prefecture were also exempt from examination. Advancement and replenishment followed ordinary-student rules, with mixed examinations and joint testing, except that hall advancement did not encroach on ordinary-student quotas and used its own one-in-seven selection rate. If many passed, the overflow was ranked by order and entered into the merit-review register. If the relative official was transferred or replaced, those wishing to transfer registration to another prefectural school were permitted to do so.

太學上、內舍既由辟雍升入，又已罷科舉，則國子監解額無所用，盡均撥諸府、諸州解額，三分之，以為三歲貢額，並令有司均定以聞。太學舊制，止分立優、平二等，自今欲令辟雍、太學試上舍中程者，皆參用察考，以差升補。其考察試格，悉分上、中、下三等。貢士則以本州升貢等第，太學內舍則以校定等第。每上舍試考已定，知舉及學官以中試之等參驗於籍，通定升絀高下，兩上為上，一上一中及兩中為中，一上一下及一中下、兩下為下。若兩格名次等第適皆齊同，即以試等壓考察之格，餘率以是為差，仍推其法達之諸州。凡內外私試，始改用仲月，並試三場，試論日仍添律義。凡考察悉準在學人數，每內舍十人取五，外舍十人取六，自上而下分為三等籍，以俟上舍考定而參用之。

Since Imperial College upper- and inner-hall students now advanced from the Bright Hall and the civil-service examinations had been abolished, Directorate recommendation quotas were no longer needed. They were evenly distributed among metropolitan and prefectural recommendation quotas, divided into thirds as three-year presentation quotas, and officials were ordered to fix the distribution and report. Under the old Imperial College system only superior and fair grades were distinguished. Henceforth, upper-hall candidates passing the standard in Bright Hall and Imperial College examinations would all cross-reference conduct assessment for differential advancement and replenishment. Standards for merit review and examination were all divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers. Presented scholars were graded by their home prefecture's presentation rank; Imperial College inner-hall students were graded by the rank fixed by the school. Whenever upper-hall examination grades were fixed, chief examiners and school officials cross-checked examination grades against the register to determine overall advancement and demotion: two upper grades ranked as upper; one upper and one middle, or two middles, ranked as middle; one upper and one lower, one middle and one lower, or two lowers ranked as lower. If the ranks and grades of both standards happened to be entirely identical, examination grade took precedence over merit-review grade. The remainder followed this principle for differentiation, and the method was extended to all prefectures. All inner and outer private examinations were changed to the middle month of each season, with three sessions in all. On the discourse-examination day, exposition of statutes was added. All merit review was based on enrolled numbers: five of every ten inner-hall students and six of every ten outer-hall students were selected, ranked from top to bottom in three-grade registers to await cross-reference when upper-hall examinations were finalized.

是歲，貢士至辟雍不如令者，凡三十有八人，皆罷歸，而提學官皆罰金。建州浦城縣學生，隸籍者至千餘人，為一路最，縣丞徐秉哲特遷一官。

That year, thirty-eight presented scholars arriving at the Bright Hall failed to meet regulations. All were dismissed and sent home, and the school intendants were all fined. More than one thousand students of Pucheng County in Jian Prefecture were on the register—the highest in the circuit—and Assistant Magistrate Xu Bingzhe was specially promoted one rank.

初立八行科，詔曰：「學以善風俗，明人倫，而人材所自出也。今法制未立，殆無以厲天下。成周以六行賓興萬民，否則威之以不孝、不弟之刑。近因稽周法，立八行、八刑，頒之學校，兼行懲勸，庶幾於古。士有善父母為孝，善兄弟為悌，善內親為睦，善外親為姻，信於朋友為任，仁於州裏為恤，知君臣之義為忠，達義利之分為和。凡有八行實狀，鄉上之縣，縣延入學，審考無偽，上其名於州。州第其等，孝、悌、忠、和為上，睦、姻為中，任、恤為下。苟備八行，不俟終歲，即奏貢入太學，免試補為上舍。司成以下審考不誣，申省釋褐，優命之官；不能全備者，為州學上等上舍，餘有差。」八刑則反八行而麗於罪，各以其罪名之。縣上其名於州，州稽於學，毋得補弟子員。然品目既立，有司必求其跡以應令，遂有牽合瑣細者。自元祐創經明行修科，主德行而略辭藝，間取禮部試黜之士，附寘恩科，當時固已咎其無所甄別。及八行科立，則三舍皆不試而補，往往設為形跡，求與名格相應。於是兩科相望幾數十年，乃無一人卓然能自著見者，而八行又有甚敝。蓋後世欲追古制，而不知風俗教化之所從出，其難固如此夫。

When the Eight-Conducts category was first established, an edict declared: "Learning improves customs, clarifies human relations, and is the source from which talent emerges. Yet regulations are not yet established, and there is scarcely any means to encourage the realm. The Zhou at its height used the Six Conducts to elevate the people; otherwise they enforced punishments for lack of filial piety and fraternal duty. Recently, drawing on Zhou methods, the court established the Eight Conducts and Eight Punishments, issued them to schools, and applied both reward and penalty together in the hope of approximating ancient practice. For scholars, filial piety meant treating one's parents well; fraternal duty, one's brothers; concord, close relatives; affinity, more distant kin; reliability, trustworthiness among friends; compassion, kindness toward neighbors; loyalty, understanding the obligations between ruler and subject; and harmony, grasping the difference between righteousness and profit. When a candidate had documented proof of the Eight Conducts, the township reported him to the county, the county invited him into school and verified that the record was genuine, and then forwarded his name to the prefecture. The prefecture ranked candidates by grade: filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, and harmony counted as upper; concord and affinity as middle; reliability and compassion as lower. Those who fully met all Eight Conducts could, without waiting out the year, be memorialized and sent directly to the Imperial College, exempt from examination and admitted straight into the upper hall. The Director of Students and his subordinates reviewed the record to ensure it was not false, reported to the province for release from student status, and favorably appointed the candidates to office; Those who did not fully meet all eight standards were placed in the upper grade of the prefectural school's upper hall, with lesser distinctions for the rest." The Eight Punishments were the inverse of the Eight Conducts and were tied to specific offenses, each named after the corresponding crime. The county reported the offender's name to the prefecture, the prefecture verified the matter with the school, and he was barred from replenishment on the student register. But once the categories were fixed, officials felt compelled to find evidence that fit the regulations, and people began forcing trivial acts to match the required labels. When the Classic Clarity and Conduct Cultivation category was created in the Yuanyou period, it emphasized moral conduct over literary skill and sometimes admitted candidates who had failed the Ministry of Rites examination through the grace category; even then it was criticized for failing to distinguish true merit. Once the Eight-Conducts category was established, students in all three halls could advance without examination, and candidates often staged outward signs of virtue simply to fit the formal categories. Across the decades that the two categories ran in parallel, not one candidate stood out as genuinely distinguished, while the Eight-Conducts system itself fell into serious abuse. Later ages sought to revive ancient institutions without understanding where custom and moral instruction truly come from; the difficulty was bound to be exactly such as this.

開封始建府學，立貢士額凡五十，而士子不及三百，盡額而取，則涉太優，欲稍裁之。詔：「王畿立學，若不優誘使進，何以首善？其常解五十勿闕。」

When Kaifeng first established its prefectural school, it set a presentation quota of fifty scholars, though fewer than three hundred candidates were enrolled. Filling the quota entirely seemed too generous, and officials wanted to reduce it somewhat. An edict declared: "If schools in the capital region are not generously encouraged to advance their students, how can the realm look to them as the model of excellence? The standing quota of fifty must not be cut."

大觀元年，詔願兼他經者，量立升進之法。大抵用本經決去取，而兼經所中等第特為升貢。每歲附公試院而別異其號，每十五人取一人，分上、中、下等，別榜示之，唱名日，甄別奏聞，與升甲，皆優於專經者。異時內外學官闕，皆得在選。縣學生三不赴歲升試及三赴歲升試而不能升州學者，皆除其籍。諸路賓興會試辟雍，獨常州中選者多，州守若教授俱遷一官。

In Daguan 1, an edict directed that measured rules for advancement be established for students who wished to study additional classics alongside their primary one. In general, selection rested on the primary classic, but a middle grade in a secondary classic could qualify a candidate for special elevated presentation. Each year these candidates were examined in the public examination hall under a separate designation, with one selected from every fifteen and ranked upper, middle, or lower on a separate list. On announcement day their results were reported to the throne and they received rank elevation, all on terms more favorable than those for single-classic specialists. Whenever posts opened among school officials in the capital and in the provinces, these candidates were all eligible for appointment. County students who missed the annual promotion examination three times, or who took it three times without advancing to the prefectural school, were all struck from the register. At the circuit preparatory assemblies and Bright Hall examinations, Changzhou alone produced an unusually large number of successful candidates, and both the prefect and the instructor were promoted one rank.

政和四年，小學生近一千人，分十齋以處之，自八歲至十二歲，率以誦經書字多少差次補內舍。若能文，從博士試本經、小經義各一道，稍通補內舍，優補上舍。又詔：「學校教養額少，則野有遺士，應諸路學校及百人以上者，三分增一。」七年，試高麗進士權適等四人，皆賜上舍及第，遣歸其國。時宰臣留意學校，因事究敝，有司考閱防閑益密。先是，禮部上《雜修禦試貢士敕令格式》，又取舊制凡關學政者，分敕、令、格、式，成書以上。用給事中毛友言，初試補入縣學生，並簾試以別偽冒。徽宗崇尚老氏之學，知兗州王純乞於《御注道德經》注中出論題，範致虛亦乞用《聖濟經》出題。

In Zhenghe 4, nearly one thousand elementary students were housed in ten halls. Boys aged eight to twelve were generally ranked by how much scripture they could recite and admitted to the inner hall accordingly. Those who showed literary ability were tested by the erudite on one question each from the primary and minor classics; modest competence gained admission to the inner hall, and strong performance to the upper hall. Another edict declared: "When school enrollment quotas are too small, talented men are left untrained in the countryside. Every circuit whose schools already enrolled one hundred students or more should increase those quotas by one third." In the seventh year, four Goryeo degree candidates including Quan Shi were examined, all were granted upper-hall completion, and were sent home to their country. At the time the chief ministers were closely attentive to the schools; when problems arose they investigated abuses, and official review and preventive oversight grew steadily tighter. Earlier, the Ministry of Rites had submitted the 《Miscellaneous Revised Imperial Examination Presented Scholar Edicts, Orders, Standards, and Formats》, and had also collected every old regulation bearing on school administration, arranged them under edicts, orders, standards, and formats, compiled them into a book, and presented it to the throne. Following a proposal by Reminder of the Secretariat Mao You, all initial examinations for admission as county students were conducted behind curtained booths to expose fraud and impersonation. Emperor Huizong favored Laozi's teachings. Wang Chun, prefect of Yanzhou, asked that essay topics be drawn from the commentary to the 《Imperially Annotated Dao De Jing》, and Fan Zhixu asked that the 《Shengji Jing》 be used as an examination source as well.

宣和元年，帝親取貢士卷考定，能深通《內經》者，升之以為第一。三年，詔：「罷天下州縣學三舍法，惟太學用之課試。開封府及諸路，並以科舉取士。太學官吏及州縣嘗置學官，凡元豐舊制所有者皆如故，其辟雍官屬及宗學並諸路提舉學事官屬並罷，內外學悉遵元豐成憲。」七年，詔：「政和中嘗命學校分治黃、老、莊、列之書，實失專經之旨，其《內經》等書並罷治。」

In Xuanhe 1, the Emperor personally reviewed the examination papers of presented scholars and ranked them himself, elevating to first place those who showed deep mastery of the 《Inner Classic》. In the third year, an edict ordered: "Abolish the three-hall system in prefectural and county schools throughout the empire. Only the Imperial College shall retain it for graded examinations. Kaifeng Prefecture and all circuits alike were to select scholars through the civil-service examination. Officials of the Imperial College and of prefectural and county schools were restored wherever the Yuanfeng system had once provided for them. The Bright Hall staff, the imperial-clan school, and circuit school intendants were all abolished, and inner and outer schools were ordered to follow the Yuanfeng statutes." In the seventh year, an edict declared: "During the Zhenghe period schools were once ordered to teach separately the texts of Huang-Lao, Zhuangzi, and Liezi, which in truth departed from the purpose of classical specialization. Instruction in the 《Inner Classic》 and similar works is hereby abolished."

崇寧以來，士子各徇其黨，習經義則詆元祐之非，尚詞賦則誚新經之失，互相排斥，群論紛紛。欽宗即位，臣僚言：「科舉取士，要當質以史學，詢以時政。今之策問，虛無不根，古今治亂，悉所不曉。詩賦設科，所得名臣，不可勝紀，專試經義亦已五紀。救之之術，莫若遵用祖宗成憲。王安石解經，有不背聖人旨意，亦許采用。至於老、莊之書及《字說》，並應禁止。」詔禮部詳議。諫議大夫兼祭酒楊時言：「王安石著為邪說，以塗學者耳目，使蔡京之徒，得以輕費妄用，極侈靡以奉上，幾危社稷。乞奪安石配饗，使邪說不能為學者惑。」御史中丞陳過庭言：「《五經》義微，諸家異見，以所是者為正，所否者為邪，此一偏之大失也。頃者指蘇軾為邪學，而加禁甚切；今已弛其禁，許采其長，實為通論。而祭酒楊時矯枉太過，復詆王氏以為邪說，此又非也。」諸生習用王學，聞時之言，群起而詆詈之，時引避不出，齋生始散。詔罷時祭酒。而諫議大夫馮澥、崔鶠等復更相辨論，會國事危，而貢舉不及行矣。

Since the Chongning period, scholars had divided along factional lines: those trained in classic exegesis denounced the Yuanyou reforms, while those devoted to regulated verse and rhapsody mocked the new classics. They rejected one another, and public debate grew increasingly bitter. When Emperor Qinzong came to the throne, officials argued: "In selecting scholars by examination, candidates should be tested rigorously in historical learning and questioned closely on current affairs. Today's policy questions are empty and groundless, and candidates show no understanding at all of order and disorder in past or present. The poetry and rhapsody examinations produced eminent ministers beyond number, while examination in classic exegesis alone has already lasted fifty years. The best remedy is to return to the established statutes of the founding emperors. Where Wang Anshi's exegeses do not depart from the intent of the sages, they too should be permitted for use. As for the texts of Laozi and Zhuangzi and the 《Character Explanations》, all should be banned from the curriculum." The throne ordered the Ministry of Rites to consider the matter in detail. Remonstrance and Policy Grandee and concurrent Libationer Yang Shi argued: "Wang Anshi composed heterodox doctrines that misled scholars, enabling men such as Cai Jing to spend recklessly, pursue extreme extravagance to please the throne, and nearly bring the state to ruin. I ask that Wang Anshi be removed from the paired sacrifice in the temple, so that his heterodox doctrines can no longer mislead scholars." Censor-in-Chief Chen Guoting replied: "The meaning of the 《Five Classics》 is subtle, and schools of interpretation differ. To call what one favors orthodox and what one rejects heterodox is a grave error of partisan judgment. Not long ago Su Shi was denounced as a purveyor of heterodox learning and the ban against him was very strict; now that ban has been relaxed and his strengths may be adopted—an approach that is truly balanced. Yet Libationer Yang Shi overcorrects in the opposite direction by denouncing the Wang school anew as heterodox doctrine—and that too is wrong." Students trained in the Wang school, hearing Yang Shi's remarks, rose together to revile him. Yang withdrew and refused to appear until the hall students finally dispersed. An edict removed Yang Shi from the post of libationer. Remonstrance and Policy Grandees Feng Xi, Cui Yan, and others then resumed debating one another, but as the state fell into crisis the presentation and selection examinations were never held.

建炎初，即行在置國子監，立博士二員，以隨幸之士三十六人為監生。紹興八年，葉綝上書請建學，而廷臣皆以兵興饣貴運為辭。十三年，兵事稍寧，始建太學，置祭酒、司業各一員，博士三員，正、錄各一員，養士七百人：上舍生三十員，內舍生百員，外舍生五百七十員。凡諸道住本州學滿一年，三試中選，不犯第三等以上罰，或不住學而曾兩預釋奠及齒於鄉飲酒者，聽充弟子員。每歲春秋兩試之，旋命一歲一補，於是多士雲集，至分場試之。俄又詔三年一試，增至千員，中選者皆給綾紙讚詞以寵之。每科場四取其一。

At the beginning of the Jianyan era, the court immediately established the Directorate of Education at the mobile capital, appointed two erudites, and enrolled thirty-six scholars who had accompanied the imperial flight as Directorate students. In Shaoxing 8, Ye Lin submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of a school, but court officials all pleaded the ongoing war and the high cost of transport. In the thirteenth year, once military affairs had eased somewhat, the Imperial College was finally established with one libationer, one vice director, three erudites, and one registrar and one recorder. Enrollment was set at seven hundred students: thirty in the upper hall, one hundred in the inner hall, and five hundred seventy in the outer hall. In general, candidates from each circuit who had studied at their home prefectural school for a full year, passed three examinations, and incurred no punishment of third grade or above—or who, though not enrolled at school, had twice attended the libation sacrifice and the district drinking ceremony—were permitted to serve as student members. They were examined each spring and autumn, and replenishment was soon fixed at once a year. Scholars gathered in such numbers that examinations had to be held in separate venues. Soon another edict changed the cycle to one examination every three years, raised enrollment to one thousand, and granted successful candidates silk certificates bearing laudatory inscriptions. At each examination one candidate was selected from every four.

自外舍有月校，而公試入等曰內舍；自內舍有月校，而舍試入等曰上舍；凡升上舍者，皆直赴廷對。二十七年，立定制：春季放補，遇省試年改用孟夏。

Students in the outer hall underwent monthly reviews, and passing the public examination gained them admission to the inner hall; students in the inner hall likewise had monthly reviews, and passing the hall examination gained them admission to the upper hall; and all who advanced to the upper hall proceeded directly to a court audience. In the twenty-seventh year a fixed rule was established: replenishment was held in spring, but in years when the provincial examination was held it was moved to early summer.

舊，太學遇覃恩無免解法，孝宗始創行之。在朝清要官，許牒期親子弟作待補國子，別號考校。如太學生遇有期親任清要官，更為國子生，不預校定、升補及差職事，惟得赴公、私試，科舉則混試焉。

Formerly the Imperial College had no exemption from the qualifying examination even during broad grace amnesties; Emperor Xiaozong was the first to institute such exemptions. Important officials at court were permitted to nominate close relatives' sons and nephews as awaiting-replenishment Directorate students, who were examined under a separate designation. If an Imperial College student had a close relative serving as an important official, he was transferred to Directorate status, exempt from school review, advancement, replenishment, and official assignments, but still permitted to take public and private examinations; in the civil-service examination he competed in the general pool.

淳熙中，命諸生暇日習射，以鬥力為等差，比類公、私試，別理分數。自中興以來，四方之士，有本貫在學公據，皆得就補。帝始加限節，命諸路州軍以解試終場人數為準，其薦貢不盡者，令百取六人赴太學，謂之「待補生」；其住本學及遊學之類，一切禁止。元豐舊制，內舍生校定，分優、平二等。優等再赴舍試，又入優，則謂之兩優釋褐，中選者即命以京秩，除學官。至是，始令先注職官，代還，注職事官，恩例視進士第二人。舊校定歲額五六分為優選者，增為十分矣。

During the Chunxi period, students were ordered to practice archery on free days, ranked by strength in competition; the results were scored separately, on the model of public and private examinations. Since the restoration, scholars from all quarters who held official certification of native place and school enrollment were all permitted to seek admission. The Emperor then imposed restrictions, ordering each circuit's prefectures and garrisons to base quotas on the number finishing the qualifying examination. Where recommended presentations fell short, six candidates were taken from every hundred to enter the Imperial College as "awaiting-replenishment students"; admission based on residence at one's home school or on traveling study was entirely prohibited. Under the old Yuanfeng system, inner-hall students were ranked in school review as either superior or fair. Inner-hall students ranked superior who then took the hall examination and again placed superior were said to have achieved "double-superior release from student status"; successful candidates were immediately appointed to capital rank and assigned as school officials. At this point the rule was changed so that they were first registered for an official post, and after completing a tour of replacement duty were registered for a substantive appointment, with privileges equivalent to those of the second-place jinshi. Formerly five or six tenths of the annual school-review quota had been ranked superior; that proportion was now raised to ten tenths.

光宗初，公試始令附省場別院。紹熙三年，禮部侍郎倪思請復混補法，命兩省、台諫雜議可否。於是吏部尚書趙汝愚等合奏曰：「國家恢儒右文，京師、郡縣皆有學，慶曆以後，文物彬彬。中興以來，建太學於行都，行貢舉於諸郡，然奔競之風勝，而忠信之俗微。亦惟榮辱升沉，不由學校；德行道藝，取決糊名；工雕篆之文，無進修之志；視庠序如傳舍，目師儒如路人；季考月書，盡成文具。今請重教官之選，假守貳之權；仿舍法以育材，因大比以取士；考終場之數，定所貢之員；期以次年，試於太學。其諸州教養、課試、升貢之法，下有司條上。」思議遂寢。四年，詔國子監試中、上等小學生，比類諸州待補中選之額，放補一次。

At the beginning of Emperor Guangzong's reign, the public examination was first held in a separate courtyard attached to the provincial examination grounds. In Shaoxi 3, Vice Minister of Rites Ni Si asked that the mixed-replenishment method be restored, and officials of the two departments, the Censorate, and the remonstrance bureaus were ordered to debate the proposal. Minister of Personnel Zhao Ruyu and others then jointly memorialized: "The state has broadly embraced Confucian learning and honored literature; schools exist in the capital and in every prefecture and county, and since the Qingli period culture has flourished richly. Since the restoration the Imperial College has been established at the mobile capital and presentation and selection carried out in the prefectures, yet frantic competition has prevailed while loyalty and trust have faded. This is because honor, disgrace, advancement, and decline no longer depend on the schools; virtue, conduct, and accomplishment are decided by sealed-name examinations; students polish ornate compositions yet lack any real will to cultivate themselves; they treat the schools like relay inns and their teachers like strangers on the road; seasonal examinations and monthly reports have all become empty formalities. We now ask that greater care be taken in selecting teaching officials and that prefects and vice prefects be given greater authority; that the hall system be used to nurture talent and the great comparison to select scholars; that quotas for presentation be fixed according to the number finishing the final examination session; and that the following year they be examined at the Imperial College. Detailed rules for nurturing students, course examinations, and elevated presentation in the prefectures should be drafted by the relevant offices and submitted for approval." Ni Si's proposal was thereupon set aside. In the fourth year, an edict ordered that elementary students who passed the Directorate examination at middle or upper grade be granted one round of replenishment, on the model of the awaiting-replenishment quota used in the prefectures.

寧宗慶元、嘉定中，始兩行混補。於是增外舍生為千四百員，內舍校定，不係上舍試年分，以八分為優等。又以國子生員多偽濫，命行在職事官期親、厘務官子孫乃得試補。嘉定十四年，詔自今待補百人取三人。舊法，自外舍升內舍，雖有校試，必公試合格，乃許升補。蓋私試皆學官自考，而公試則降敕差官。至是，歲終許取外舍生校最優者一人升內舍。

During Emperor Ningzong's Qingyuan and Jiading reign periods, mixed replenishment was first instituted in both channels. Outer-hall enrollment was raised to fourteen hundred students. Inner-hall school review, no longer tied to upper-hall examination years, set the superior grade at eight tenths. Because many Directorate students were fraudulently enrolled, the court ruled that only close relatives of duty officials at the mobile capital and descendants of revenue officials might seek examination replenishment. In Jiading 14, an edict fixed the awaiting-replenishment quota at three candidates from every hundred. Under the old rules, advancement from the outer hall to the inner hall required passing the school examination, but replenishment was permitted only after passing the public examination as well. Private examinations were conducted by school officials themselves, whereas public examinations were supervised by officials dispatched by imperial order. At this point the rule was changed so that at year's end the top-ranked outer-hall student in school review alone could advance to the inner hall.

理宗復百取六人之制。紹定二年，以待補生自外方來參齋者，間有鬻帖偽冒之弊。遂命中選之人，召升朝保官二員批書印紙，仍命州郡守倅結罪保明，比照字跡無偽，方許簾引注籍；犯者治罪，罰及保官。五年，以省試下第及待補生之群試於有司者，有請托賄求之弊，學官考文，有親故交通之私，命今後兩學補試，並從廟堂臨時選差，即令入院；凡用度，則用國子監供給學官事例。未幾，監察御史何處久又言：「宜遵舊制，以武學、宗學補試，並就兩學於大院排日引試，有親嫌人依避房法。且士子試卷頗多，考官頗少，期日既迫，費用不敷。」乃增給用度，仍添差考官五員。寶祐元年，復命分路取放補試員數，以免遠方士子道路往來之費及都城壅並之患。三年，復試於京師。

Emperor Lizong restored the quota of six candidates from every hundred. In Shaoding 2, among awaiting-replenishment students arriving from the provinces to attend hall sessions, there were occasional cases of selling credentials and fraudulent impersonation. Those who passed the examination were then required to have two court-attending guarantor officials endorse their sealed credentials. Prefects and vice prefects were ordered to certify the candidates under bond of personal liability; only after handwriting was compared and forgery ruled out were candidates led in under the curtain and entered on the register. Violators were prosecuted, and their guarantor officials were punished as well. In the fifth year, provincial examination failures and awaiting-replenishment students sitting group exams before local authorities were found to trade on connections and bribes, while school officials grading papers favored kin and friends. The court therefore ruled that replenishment exams at both schools would hereafter be supervised by officials temporarily dispatched from the capital, with successful candidates admitted to the halls at once. All expenses were covered under the Directorate of Education’s established provisions for supplying school officials. Soon afterward, Investigating Censor He Chujiu urged the court to restore the old practice: replenishment exams for the Military School and Imperial Clan School should be held on fixed dates in the great hall of the two schools, with the chamber-avoidance law applied wherever kinship conflicts arose. He also noted that examination papers far outnumbered the available examiners, deadlines were tight, and funds fell short." The court increased the budget and added five examiners. In Baoyou 1, replenishment quotas were again distributed by circuit, sparing distant candidates travel costs and easing overcrowding in the capital. In the third year, the exams were moved back to the capital.

度宗咸淳二年正月，幸太學，謁先聖，禮成，推恩三學：前廊與免省試，內舍、上舍及已免省試者與升甲；起居學生與泛免一次，內該曾經兩幸人與補上州文學，如願在學者聽。其在籍諸生，地遠不及趁赴起居者，三學申請乞並行泛免一次，命特從之。凡諸生升舍在幸學之前者，方許陳乞恩例。七年正月，以壽和聖福皇太后兩上尊號，推恩三學，在齋生員並特與免解赴省一次。九年，外舍生晏泰亨以七分三氂乞理為第三優，朝命不許，遂申嚴學法，今後及八分者方許歲校三名，如八分者止有一人，而援次優、三優之例者，亦須止少三、二氂，方可陳乞特放，庶不盡廢學法，當亦不過一人而止。

In the first month of Xianchun 2, Emperor Duzong visited the Imperial College and performed rites before the Sage. When the ceremony ended, he extended grace to the three schools: outer-hall students were exempted from the provincial examination; inner-hall and upper-hall students, and those already exempt, received rank promotion. Attendance students received one general exemption; those who had twice attended imperial visits were appointed literary officers of upper prefectures, while those who wished to remain enrolled were allowed to do so. Enrolled students living too far away to attend in person petitioned through the three schools for the same general exemption, and the court granted it. Only students who had already advanced in hall rank before the imperial visit were eligible to petition for grace benefits. In the first month of the seventh year, when the Empress Dowager of Longevity and Sacred Blessing received two honorific titles, grace was extended to the three schools: every student in residence received a special exemption from the provincial qualifying examination. In the ninth year, outer-hall student Yan Taiheng, with a score of seven tenths and three li, petitioned to be ranked third superior; the court refused. School regulations were tightened: only scores of eight tenths or higher qualified for the three top annual school-review ranks. If only one student reached eight tenths yet claimed second- or third-superior precedents, he still had to fall short by at least two or three li before seeking special advancement—so that school law would not be wholly discarded yet would rarely benefit more than one student.

律學。國初置博士，掌授法律。熙寧六年，始即國子監設學，置教授四員。凡命官、舉人皆得入學，各處一齋。舉人須得命官二人保任，先入學聽讀而後試補。習斷按，則試按一道，每道敘列刑名五事或七事；習律令，則試大義五道，中格乃得給食。各以所習，月一公試、三私試，略如補試法。凡朝廷有新頒條令，刑部即送學。其犯降舍殿試者，薄罰金以示辱，餘用太學規矩，而命官聽出宿。尋又置學正一員，有明法應格而守選者，特免試注官，使兼之，月奉視所授官。後以教授一員兼管幹本學規矩，仍從太學例給晚食。元豐六年，用國子司業朱服言，命官在學，如公試律義、斷案俱優，準吏部試法授官；太學生能兼習律學，中公試第一，比私試第二等。

The Law School. At the dynasty’s founding, an erudite was appointed to teach law. In Xining 6, a Law School was established within the Directorate of Education, with four instructors appointed. Both appointed officials and presented scholars were eligible to enroll, each assigned to a separate hall. Presented scholars required sponsorship by two appointed officials; they entered as auditors and could sit for replenishment only afterward. Students of case adjudication were tested on one case, each requiring five or seven items of penal nomenclature to be set forth. Students of statutes and ordinances faced five general-principle questions; rations were granted only after they met the passing standard. Each track held one public and three private examinations monthly, broadly following replenishment-exam practice. Whenever the court promulgated new statutes, the Ministry of Justice forwarded them to the school at once. Students demoted in hall rank or palace examination paid modest fines as a mark of disgrace; otherwise Imperial College rules applied, and appointed officials were allowed to lodge off campus. A school rectifier was soon added. Candidates qualified in Clear Law who awaited appointment were exempted from further examination, appointed to office, and allowed to serve concurrently at the monthly salary of the post granted. Later one instructor was also assigned to enforce the school’s regulations, still receiving evening rations under Imperial College precedent. In the sixth year of Yuanfeng, following Vice Director Zhu Fu’s memorial, appointed officials enrolled in the school who excelled in both public exams on legal principles and case adjudication received appointment under Ministry of Personnel examination rules. Imperial College students who also studied law and placed first on the public exam were credited with second grade on the private exam.

政和間，詔博士、學正依大理寺官除授，不許用無出身人及以恩例陳請。生徒犯罰者，依學規；仍犯不改，書其印曆或補牒，參選則理為闕失。

During the Zhenghe period, an edict required that erudites and school rectifiers be appointed like Court of Judicial Review officials, barring candidates without examination credentials or those seeking appointment by grace precedent. Students who violated regulations were punished under school rules; repeat offenders had the offense recorded on their seal register or replenishment certificate, and at appointment it counted as a disqualifying flaw.

建炎三年，復明法新科，進士預薦者聽試。紹興元年，復刑法科。凡問題，號為假案，其合格分數，以五十五通分作十分，以所通定分數，以分數定等級：五分以上入第二等下，四分半以上入第三等上，四分以上入第三等中。以曾經試法人為考官。五年，以李洪嘗中刑法入第二等，命與改秩，中書駁之。趙鼎謂：「古者以刑弼教，所宜崇獎。」高宗曰：「刑名之學久廢，不有以優之，則其學絕矣。」卒如前詔。後議者謂得解人取應，更不兼經，白身得官，反易於有官試法。乃命所試斷案、刑名，全通及粗通以十分為率，斷及五分、《刑統》義文理全通為合格，及雖全通而斷案不及分數者勿取。仍自後舉兼經。十五年，罷明法科，以其額歸進士，惟刑法科如舊。二十五年，四川類省始附試刑法。

In Jianyan 3, the new Clear Law category was restored; recommended presented scholars were allowed to take the exam. In Shaoxing 1, the Penal Law examination category was restored. Exam questions, styled mock cases, used a fifty-five-point scale converted to ten parts; the number of correct answers determined the score and the score the grade: five parts or more placed in lower second grade, four and a half or more in upper third grade, four or more in middle third grade. Examiners were drawn from candidates who had previously passed the legal examination. In the fifth year, Li Hong, having passed the penal examination in second grade, was ordered promoted in rank; the Secretariat rejected the order. Zhao Ding argued: "In antiquity penal law supported moral instruction; it deserves honor and reward." Emperor Gaozong replied: "Penal nomenclature has long been neglected; unless we favor it, the discipline will die out." The earlier edict stood. Critics later noted that presented scholars sitting the exam without combining the classics could receive office from commoner status—easier, in practice, than the legal exam for officials already in service. The court then ruled that on a ten-part scale combining full and rough passes, candidates needed five parts on case adjudication and full mastery of the principles of the cited text to qualify; those strong on principles but weak on cases were rejected. Subsequent examinations again required the classics. In the fifteenth year, the Clear Law category was abolished and its quota folded into the presented scholar examination; only the Penal Law category remained unchanged. In the twenty-fifth year, the Sichuan regional provincial exam first included the penal law examination.

淳熙七年，秘書郎李巘言：「漢世儀、律、令同藏於理官，而決疑獄者必傅以古義。本朝命學究兼習律令，而廢明法科；後復明法，而以三小經附。蓋欲使經生明法，法吏通經。今所試止於斷案、律義，斷案稍通、律義雖不成文，亦得中選，故法官罕能知書。宜令習大法者兼習經義，參考優劣。」帝曰：「古之儒者，以儒術決獄，若用俗吏，必流於刻。」乃從其奏，詔自今第一、第二、第三場試斷案，每場各三道，第四場大經義一道，小經義二道，第五場《刑統》律義五道。明年，命斷案三場，每場止試一道，每道刑名十件，與經義通取，四十分以上為合格，經義定去留，律義定高下。

In Chunxi 7, Secretariat Gentleman Li Yan observed: "In Han times ritual, law, and ordinances were kept together in the judge’s office, and doubtful cases were decided by appeal to ancient principle. Our dynasty required classicists to study statutes and ordinances, yet abolished the Clear Law category; Clear Law was later restored, but only with the three minor classics attached. The aim was to make classicists understand law and legal clerks know the classics. Today the exam tests only case adjudication and legal principles. Rough competence in cases suffices even when principles are poorly written, so successful candidates rarely read widely—and judges seldom know books. Candidates studying major law should also be tested on classic principles, with both weighed in ranking." The emperor replied: "Ancient Confucians decided cases through Confucian learning; vulgar clerks would inevitably grow harsh." The court adopted his proposal. An edict ordered three case-adjudication sessions of three questions each; a fourth session with one major and two minor classic principles; and a fifth with five questions on the principles of the cited text. The next year the format changed: three case sessions with one question each, ten penal items per question. Classic principles and cases were judged together; forty parts or more qualified, classic principles decided pass or fail, and legal principles determined rank.

寧宗慶元三年，以議臣言罷經義，五年又復。嘉定二年，臣僚上言：「試法設科，本以六場引試，後始增經義一場，而止試五場，律義又居其一，斷案止三場而已，殊失設科之初意。且考試類多文士，輕視法家，惟以經義定去留，其弊一也。法科欲明憲章，習法令，察舉明比附之精微，識比折出入之錯綜，酌情法於數字之內，決是非於片言之間。比年案題字多，專尚困人，一日之內，僅能謄寫題目，豈暇深究法意，其弊二也。刑法考官不過曾中法科丞、評數人，由是請托之風盛，換易之弊興，其弊三也。今請罷去經義，仍分六場，以五場斷案，一場律義為定。問題稍減字數，而求精於法律者為試官，各供五六題，納監試或主文臨時點定。如是，讞議得人矣。」從之。六年，以議者言法科止試《刑統》，是盡廢理義而專事法律，遂命復用經義一場，以《尚書》、《語》、《孟》題各一篇及《刑統》大義，通為五場。所出經題，不必拘刑名倫類，以防預備，以斷案定去留，經義為高下，仍禁雜流入貲人收試。八年，罷四川類試刑法科。

In Qingyuan 3, memorialists persuaded Emperor Ningzong to drop classic principles; in the fifth year they were restored. In Jiading 2, officials memorialized: "The legal exam was originally six sessions; later a classic-principles session was added, yet only five were tested—legal principles taking one and case adjudication only three—far from the category’s original purpose. Most examinees are literary men who despise legal studies; pass and fail hinge on classic principles alone—that is the first abuse. The legal exam should clarify statutes, train candidates in ordinances, test subtle analogical reasoning, weigh inclusion and exclusion, apply statutory principle within precise numerical rules, and decide right and wrong in a few words. Recently case topics have grown wordy and deliberately trap candidates; in one day they can barely copy the question, let alone grasp legal meaning—the second abuse. Penal examiners numbered only a few vice directors and reviewers who had passed the legal category—so solicitation flourished and paper substitution became common, the third abuse. We ask to abolish classic principles and restore six sessions: five on case adjudication and one on legal principles. Questions should be shorter; skilled legal examiners should each submit five or six topics for the supervising or chief examiner to select on the spot. Thus the court would obtain worthy men for judicial deliberation." The proposal was adopted. In the sixth year, critics argued that testing only the cited text abandoned principles for bare law; the court restored one classic-principles session-one essay each from the cited text, the cited text, and the cited text, plus the cited text principles-for five sessions total. Classic topics need not concern penal categories or human relations, to prevent cramming. Cases decided pass or fail, classic principles determined rank, and miscellaneous-status purchasers were still barred from sitting. In the eighth year, the Sichuan regional penal law exam was abolished.

初，凡試法科者，皆取撰成見義挾入試場。理宗淳祐三年，令刑部措置關防，其考試則選差大理丞、正曆任中外有聲望者，不許止用新科評事未經作縣之人。逮其試中，又當仿省試、中書覆試之法，質以疑獄，觀其讞筆明允，始與差除。時所立等第，文法俱通者為上，徑除評事；文法粗通者為次，與檢法；不通者駁放。

At first, legal examinees smuggled prewritten essays into the examination hall. In Chunyou 3, Emperor Lizong ordered the Ministry of Justice to tighten safeguards. Examiners were selected from Court of Judicial Review vice directors and directors of established reputation in central and local service—not merely new-category reviewers who had never served as county magistrates. Successful candidates were also to face provincial-style and Secretariat re-examination: questioned on doubtful cases, their judicial drafts examined for clarity and fairness, before appointment. Grades were set as follows: full mastery of text and law ranked upper grade, with direct appointment as reviewer; rough mastery ranked lower grade, with appointment as legal examiner; failures were rejected outright.

度宗咸淳元年，申嚴選試之法，凡引試刑法官，命題一如《紹興式》。八年，以試法科者少，特命考試命題，務在簡嚴，毋用長語。有過而願試者，照見行條法，除私罪應徒、或入己贓、失入死罪並停替外，餘犯輕罪者，與放行收試。或已經三試終場之人，已曆三考，赴部參注，命本部考核元試，果有所批分數，不須舉狀，與注外郡刑法獄官差使一次，庶可激厲誘掖。格法，試法科者，批及八分，方在取放之數。咸淳末，有僅及二分以上者，亦特取一名，授提刑司檢法官，寬以勸之也。

In Xianchun 1, Emperor Duzong tightened selection-exam rules: penal law examiners had to set questions strictly according to the cited text. In the eighth year, with few legal examinees, the court ordered exam questions to be concise and strict, without verbose phrasing. Candidates with prior offenses who wished to sit were judged under current rules: private offenses warranting penal servitude, embezzlement, or erroneous capital sentences barred them; lesser offenses still allowed them to sit. Those who had completed three full exam rounds and three evaluations and came to the ministry for appointment could have their original scores verified by the ministry; if scores were on record, no recommendation was needed—they received one assignment as penal prison official in an outer prefecture, as incentive and encouragement. By regulation, legal examinees scoring eight tenths or higher qualified for selection. Late in Xianchun, candidates scoring barely above two tenths were specially given one place as intendant’s-office legal examiners—a lenient measure to encourage participation.

初，宗學廢置無常。凡諸王屬尊者，立小學於其宮。其子孫，自八歲至十四歲皆入學，日誦二十字。其已授環衛官、有學藝得召試遷轉者每有之，然非有司常試，乃特恩也。熙寧十年，始立《宗子試法》。凡祖宗袒免親已受命者，附鎖廳試；自袒免以外，得試於國子監。禮部別異其卷而校之，十取其五，舉者雖多，解毋過五十人。廷試亦不與進士同考。年及四十、嘗累舉不中，疏其名以聞而錄用之。其官於外而不願附各路鎖試，許謁告試國子監。

At first, the Imperial Clan School was repeatedly established and abolished without fixed practice. Honored imperial clansmen maintained elementary schools in their palaces. Their descendants, aged eight to fourteen, all enrolled, reciting twenty characters daily. Some who held guard appointments and distinguished themselves in learning were occasionally summoned for special examinations and promotion—but these were not regular official exams, only special grace. In Xining 10, the cited text was first promulgated. Clansmen within the mourning-veil relationship who already held appointments took the attached sealed-hall examination; those outside the mourning veil could examine at the Directorate of Education. The Ministry of Rites graded their papers separately, selecting five from ten; however many passed, no more than fifty could be presented. The palace examination was held separately from the presented scholar examination. Clansmen who reached forty after repeated failure had their names reported upward and were recorded for appointment. Officials serving in the provinces who declined the circuit sealed-hall exam could petition leave and examine at the Directorate of Education.

崇寧初，疏屬年二十五，以經義、律義試禮部合格，分二等附進士榜，與三班奉職，文優者奏裁。其不能試及試而黜者，讀律於禮部，推恩與三班借職，勿著為令。及兩京皆置敦宗院，院皆置大、小學教授，立考選法，如《熙寧格》出官，所蒞長貳或監司有二人任之，乃注授。後又許見在任者，於本任附貢士試。大觀三年，宗子釋褐者十二人。宗學官，須宗子中上舍第且有行者，方始為之。四年，詔：「宗子之升上舍，不經殿試，遽命之官，熙寧法不如是。其依貢士法，俟殿試補入上、中等者，唱名日取裁。」後又定上等賜上舍及第，中等賜出身，授官有差。凡隸學，有篤疾若親老無兼侍者，大宗正察其實，罷歸。宣和二年，詔罷量試出官之法。

Early in Chongning, distant clansmen at age twenty-five who passed the Ministry of Rites exam in classic and legal principles were ranked in two grades on the presented scholar list, granted Third Rank attendance, with superior literary merit submitted for imperial decision. Those unable or unwilling to sit, or who failed, studied law at the Ministry of Rites and received grace appointment as Third Rank provisional office—a practice not codified as permanent law. When both capitals established Cherish the Clan Academies, each appointed elementary and advanced instructors and examination rules. Under the cited text, appointment required guarantee by two supervising officials before registration. Later, incumbents were also allowed to take the attached presented-scholar exam in their current jurisdiction. In Daguan 3, twelve clansmen received initial appointment. Imperial Clan School officials had to be upper-hall clansmen of proven conduct. In the fourth year, an edict declared: "Promoting clansmen to the upper hall and appointing them to office without a palace examination was not Xining practice. Those under the presented-scholar method, awaiting palace examination for upper or middle grade, are decided on the day names are announced. Later upper grade was fixed as upper-hall passed status, middle grade as presented-scholar status, with differentiated appointments. Enrolled clansmen with serious illness, or aged parents with no one else to care for them, were investigated by the Director of the Imperial Clan and dismissed to return home. In Xuanhe 2, an edict abolished the qualification-examination route to appointment.

紹興二年，帝初策士及宗子於集英殿。五年，初復南省試。十四年，始建宗學於臨安，生員額百人：大學生五十人，小學生四十人，職事各五人。置諸王宮大、小學教授一員。在學者皆南宮、北宅子孫，若親賢宅近屬，則別選館職教授。初，行在宗室試國子監者，有官鎖廳，七取其三；無官應舉，七取其四；無官袒免親取應，文理通為合格，不限其數；而外任主宮觀、嶽廟試於轉運司者，取放之額同進士。十五年，命諸路宗室願赴行在試者，依熙寧舊制，並國子監請解；不願者，依崇寧通用貢舉法，所以優國族也。

In Shaoxing 2, the emperor first held palace examinations for presented scholars and imperial clansmen in the Hall of Assembled Excellence. In the fifth year, the provincial capital examination was restored for the first time. In the fourteenth year, the Imperial Clan School was first established at Lin'an with a quota of one hundred students: fifty in the advanced school, forty in the elementary school, and five administrative staff in each category. One instructor each was appointed for the elementary and advanced schools in the princes' palaces. Enrollees were all descendants of the Southern and Northern Residences; close relatives of the Close and Worthy Residence received separate palace instructors. Initially, clansmen at the provisional capital who examined at the Directorate of Education and held office took the sealed-hall exam, with three selected from seven; officeless examinees, four from seven; officeless clansmen within the mourning veil who took the response-to-call exam were qualified on literary grounds alone, without numerical limits; those serving nominal posts at palace chapels and mountain temples who examined through transport commissions had the same admission quotas as presented scholars. In the fifteenth year, clansmen in each circuit who wished to examine at the provisional capital were ordered to follow Xining practice and submit credentials through the Directorate of Education; those who declined followed the general Chongning presented-scholar regulations—to favor the imperial clan.

孝宗登極，凡宗子不以服屬遠近、人數多寡，其曾獲文解兩次者，並直赴廷試，略通文墨者，量試推恩。習經人本經義二道，習賦人詩賦各一首，試論人論一首，仍限二十五歲以上，合格，第一名承節郎，餘並承信郎。曾經下省人，免量試，推恩。四川則附試於安撫製置司。於是入仕者驟逾千人。隆興元年，詔量試不中、年四十以上補承信郎，展三年出官，餘並於後舉再試。四月，禦射殿引見取應省試第一人，賜同進士出身，第二、第三人補保義郎，餘四十人承節郎，七人承信郎。凡宗室鎖廳得出身者，京官進一秩，選人比類循資；無官應舉得出身者，補修職郎；濮、秀二王下子孫中進士舉者，更特轉一秩。

When Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, all clansmen—regardless of mourning relationship, proximity, or numbers—who had twice earned literary qualification went directly to the palace examination; those with modest literacy received grace appointment through the qualification exam. Classicists faced two questions on their classic; rhymed-prose students one poem and one fu; essay candidates one essay—all had to be twenty-five or older. The top candidate received Chengjie Lang; all others Chengxin Lang. Those who had already passed the provincial examination were exempt from the qualification exam and received grace appointment. In Sichuan, candidates were attached to the Pacification and Military Affairs Commission for examination. Entrants to office suddenly exceeded one thousand. In Longxing 1, an edict ordered that qualification failures aged forty or above receive Chengxin Lang, with appointment deferred three years; all others were to re-examine at the next session. In the fourth month, at the Imperial Archery Hall the top candidate in the response-to-call provincial exam was presented and granted status equal to presented scholar; second and third were appointed Baoyi Lang; forty others Chengjie Lang; seven Chengxin Lang. Clansmen who gained status through the sealed-hall exam saw capital officials advance one rank and selected men promoted by analogous progression; officeless examinees who gained status were appointed Associate for Meritorious Service; descendants of the Princes of Pu and Xiu who passed the presented scholar exam received an additional special promotion of one rank.

乾道五年，命宗室職事隨侍子弟許赴國子監補。六年，臣僚上言：「神宗朝，始立教養、選舉宗子之法。保義至秉義，鎖試則與京秩，在末科則升甲，取應不過量試注官，所以寵異同姓，不與寒畯等也。然曩時向學者少，比年雋異者多，或冠多士，或登詞科，幾與寒士齊驅；而入仕浸繁，未知裁抑，非所以示至公也。」於是禮部請鎖廳登第者，舊於元官上轉行兩官，自今止依元資改授，餘準舊制。十二年，右正言胡衛請：「自今宗室監試，無官應舉，照鎖廳例七取其二；省試則三舉所放人數如取應例，立為定額。」從之。

In Qiandao 5, clansmen serving as staff or attendant sons were permitted to enroll at the Directorate of Education as supplemental students. In the sixth year, officials memorialized: "Under Emperor Shenzong, methods for educating and selecting clansmen were first established. From Baoyi to Bingyi, the sealed exam granted capital rank and last-cohort promotion; response-to-call candidates received only qualification-exam appointment—all to favor the imperial surname, not to equal humble scholars. Yet formerly few studied diligently; recently many excelled—some topping the scholar cohort, some entering the rhymed-prose category—nearly matching humble scholars; yet entry to office grew ever more numerous without restraint—not the way to display utmost fairness." The Ministry of Rites proposed that sealed-hall graduates, formerly promoted two ranks above their original office, should hereafter receive only reassignment at original qualification; the rest followed old regulations. In the twelfth year, Right Remonstrator Hu Wei requested: "Henceforth in imperial clan examinations, officeless candidates should follow the sealed-hall rule of two from seven; and provincial exam admissions over three sessions should follow the response-to-call precedent as a fixed quota." The proposal was adopted.

寧宗嘉定四年，詔鎖廳應舉，省試第一名，殿試唱名授官日，於應得恩例外，更遷一秩。九年，以宮學並歸宗庠，教授改為博士、宗諭。十四年，命前隸宮學近屬，令附宗學公、私試，中選者與正補宗學生，近屬子孫年十五以下者，許試小學生。復置諸王宮大、小學教授一員。宗學解試依太學例取放，每舉附國子監發解所，異題別考。

In Jiading 4, an edict ordered that sealed-hall examinees who placed first in the provincial exam receive one additional rank beyond normal grace on the day names were announced at the palace examination. In the ninth year, the palace school was merged into the clan school; instructors became Erudites and Clan Instructors. In the fourteenth year, former palace-school close relatives were ordered to take the clan school's public and private exams; successful candidates received regular enrollment; close relatives' descendants under fifteen could try for elementary school. One instructor each was again appointed for the princes' palace elementary and advanced schools. The clan school's qualifying exam followed Imperial Academy admission rules; each session it was attached to the Directorate's presentation office, with separate topics and grading.

理宗寶慶二年，以鎖廳宗子第一名若搢學深《春秋》，秀出譜籍，與補保義郎，特賜同進士出身，仍換修職郎。端平元年，命宗子鎖廳應舉解試，凡在外州軍，或寄居，或見任隨侍，及見寓行在就試者，各召知識官委保正身，國子監取其宗子出身、訓名、生長左驗，以憑保收試，仍於試卷家狀內具保官職位、姓名，以防欺詐。淳祐二年，建內小學，置教授二員，選宗子就學。寶祐元年五月，特、正奏名進士宗子必光等二人特授保義郎，若瑰等二十九人承節郎，敕略曰：「必光等取應及選，咸補右階，蓋欲誘之進學，而教以入仕也。其毋以是自畫焉。」

In Baoqing 2, sealed-hall first-place clansman Ru Jin, who mastered the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》 and stood out in lineage, was appointed Baoyi Lang, specially granted status equal to presented scholar, and exchanged for Associate for Meritorious Service. In Duanping 1, clansmen in the sealed-hall qualifying exam—whether in outside prefectures, sojourning, serving as attendants, or residing at the provisional capital—each required a knowing official to guarantee identity. The Directorate of Education verified lineage credentials, courtesy names, and upbringing before admission; guarantors' offices and names were recorded on household registers in the exam papers to prevent fraud. In Chunyou 2, an inner elementary school was established with two instructors; clansmen were selected to enroll. In Baoyou 1, fifth month, two specially and regularly listed presented-scholar clansmen including Bi Guang were specially appointed Baoyi Lang; twenty-nine including Ruo Gui received Chengjie Lang. The edict read in part: "Bi Guang and others, having responded to the call and been selected, were all appointed to the right ranks—to encourage advanced study and teach the path to office. Do not therefore limit yourselves by this."

度宗咸淳元年，以鎖廳應舉宗子兩請，舉人遇即位赦恩，並赴類試。其曾經覆試文理通者，照例升等；文理不通及未經覆試者則否；第五等人特與免銓出官。九年，凡無官宗子應舉，初生則用乳名給據，既長則用訓名。其赴諸路漕司之試，有一人前後用兩據、印二卷者。至是，命漕司並索乳名、訓名各項公據，方許收試，以杜奸弊。

In Xianchun 1, as sealed-hall clansmen had twice petitioned, presented scholars benefiting from the accession amnesty were all sent to the category examination. those who had passed re-examination with literary competence were promoted by precedent; those without literary competence or without re-examination were not; fifth-grade candidates were specially exempted from registry selection for appointment. In the ninth year, officeless clansmen used milk-names on birth credentials and courtesy names once grown. Some who examined at circuit transport offices used two different credentials and sealed two exam rolls. Transport offices were now ordered to demand official credentials for both milk-name and courtesy name before admitting candidates—to stop fraud.

武舉、武選。咸平時，令兩製、館閣詳定入官資序故事，而未及行。仁宗時，法置武學，既而中輟。天聖八年，親試武舉十二人，先閱其騎射而試之，以策為去留，弓馬為高下。

Military Presented Examination and Military Selection. During Xianping, drafters and academy fellows were ordered to review precedents on official qualification and rank sequence for appointment, but the order was never implemented. Under Emperor Renzong, the Military Academy was established by law but soon suspended. In Tiansheng 8, twelve military examinees were personally tested; mounted archery was tested first, essays decided pass or fail, and bow and horse determined rank.

神宗熙寧五年，樞密請建武學於武成王廟，以尚書兵部郎中韓縝判學，內藏庫副使郭固同判，賜食本錢萬緡。生員以百人為額，選文武官知兵者為教授。使臣未參班與門蔭、草澤人召京官保任，人材弓馬應格，聽入學，習諸家兵法。教授纂次歷代用兵成敗、前世忠義之節足以訓者，講釋之。願試陣隊者，量給兵伍。在學三年，具藝業考試等第推恩，未及格者，逾年再試。凡試中，三班使臣與三路巡檢、砦主，未有官人與經略司教隊、差使，三年無過，則升至大使臣，有兩省、待制或本路鈐轄以上三人保舉堪將領者，並兼諸衛將軍，外任回，歸環衛班。

In Xining 5, the Bureau of Military Affairs requested establishing the Military Academy at the Temple of King Wucheng, with Han Zhen of the Ministry of Works Bureau of Military Affairs as director and Inner Storehouse Deputy Commissioner Guo Gu as associate director, granted ten thousand strings in maintenance funds. The student quota was fixed at one hundred; civil and military officials knowledgeable in warfare were selected as instructors. Palace agents not yet attending court, yin beneficiaries, and commoners required capital-official guarantors; those meeting talent and archery standards were permitted to enroll and study various schools of military strategy. Instructors compiled historical military successes and failures and exemplary loyalty from former ages and lectured on them. Those wishing to drill in battle formations were given troops as appropriate. After three years, accomplishments were tested for graded grace appointment; failures re-examined the following year. Successful candidates included Third Rank palace agents, circuit patrol inspectors, and fort commanders, as well as officeless men and circuit-commission drill instructors. After three years without fault they were promoted to Great Palace Agent; with three guarantors among Secretariat drafters, academicians, or circuit commanders certifying command ability, they concurrently held Guard General posts; after outside service they rejoined the guard roster.

科場前一年，武臣路分都監、文官轉運判官以上各奏舉一人，聽免試入學。生員及應舉者不過二百人。春秋各一試，步射以一石三斗，馬射以八斗，矢五發中的；或習武伎，副之策略，雖弓力不及，學業卓然：並為優等，補上舍生，毋過三十人。試馬射以六斗，步射以九斗，策一道，《孫》、《吳》、《六韜》義十道，五通補內舍生。馬步射、馬戰應格，對策精通、士行可稱者，上樞密院審察試用；雖不應格而曉術數、知陣法、智略可用，或累試策優等，悉取旨補上舍；武藝、策略累居下等，復降外舍。

The year before the exam cycle, military circuit chief controllers and civil transport vice commissioners and above each recommended one candidate for examination exemption and enrollment. Enrolled students and examinees were capped at two hundred. One exam each in spring and autumn; foot archery at one stone three dou, mounted archery at eight dou, five arrows on target; or those skilled in martial arts with strategic competence—even if bow strength fell short, outstanding learners—all ranked upper grade as upper-hall students, capped at thirty. Mounted archery at six dou, foot archery at nine dou, one policy essay, ten questions on the 《Sun》, 《Wu》, and 《Six Secret Teachings》—five correct answers qualified for inner-hall status. those meeting mounted and foot archery and mounted combat standards, with masterful policy answers and commendable conduct, were submitted to the Bureau of Military Affairs for review and trial appointment; though failing standards, those skilled in numerology and battle formations with usable stratagem, or repeatedly earning top policy grades, all received imperial approval for upper-hall status; repeated low ranks in martial arts and strategy meant demotion to the outer hall.

先是，樞密院修《武舉試法》，不能答策者，答兵書墨義。王安石奏曰：「三路義勇藝入三等以上，皆有旨錄用，陛下又欲推府界保甲法於三路，則武力之人已多。近以學究一科，從誦書不曉理廢之，而武舉復試墨義，則亦學究之流，無補於事。先王收勇力之士，皆屬於車右者，欲以備禦侮之用，則記誦何所施？」於是悉從中書所定。凡武舉，始試義、策於秘閣，武藝則試於殿前司，及殿試，則又試騎射及策於庭。策、武藝俱優為右班殿直，武藝次優為三班奉職，又次借職，末等三班差使、減磨勘年。策入平等而武藝優者除奉職，次優借職，又次三班差使、減磨勘年，武藝末等者三班差使。八年，詔武舉與文舉進士，同時鎖試於貢院，以防進士之被黜而改習者，遂罷秘閣試。又以《六韜》本非全書，止以《孫》、《吳》書為題。

Earlier, the Bureau of Military Affairs compiled the cited text; those unable to answer policy essays answered written interpretation of military texts. Wang Anshi memorialized: "In the three circuits, Righteous and Brave men whose martial arts reached third grade and above have all been ordered appointed; Your Majesty also wishes to extend the capital-district militia law to the three circuits—martial men are already plentiful. The Classicist category was recently abolished for rote recitation without understanding, yet the military exam again tests written interpretation—making it another rote category, useless in practice. Former kings gathered brave men to the chariot's right for defense against insult—what use is memorization?" The court adopted the Secretariat's regulations in full. Military examinees first faced principles and policy essays at the Secret Archive and martial arts at the Palace Front Office; at the palace examination, mounted archery and policy essays were tested again in the courtyard. Top ranks in both policy and martial arts received Right Rank Attendance; next in martial arts, Third Rank Attendance; then provisional office; lowest grade, Third Rank assignment with reduced merit-review years. Equal policy but superior martial arts earned Attendance; next, provisional office; then Third Rank assignment with reduced merit-review years; lowest martial arts, Third Rank assignment only. In the eighth year, an edict ordered military and literary presented scholars to be sealed and examined together at the examination compound, to prevent failed literary candidates from switching to military study; the Secret Archive exam was abolished. Because the 《Six Secret Teachings》 was incomplete, only the 《Sun》 and 《Wu》 texts were used as exam topics.

元豐元年，立《大小使臣試弓馬藝業出官法》：第一等，步射一石，矢十發三中，馬射七斗，馬上武藝五種，《孫》、《吳》義十通七，時務邊防策五道文理優長，律令義十通七，中五事以上免短使、減一任監當，三事以上免短使、升半年名次，兩事升半年，一事升一季；第二等，步射八斗，矢十發二中，馬射六斗，馬上武藝三種，《孫》、《吳》義十通五，策三道成文理，律令義十通五，中五事免短使、升半年，三事升半年，兩事升一季，一事與出官；第三等，步射六斗，矢十發一中，馬射五斗，馬上武藝兩種，《孫》、《吳》義十通三，策三道成文理，律令義十通三，計算錢穀文書五通三，中五事升半年，三事升一季，兩事與出官。其步射並發兩矢，馬射發三矢，皆著為格。四年，罷試律義。七年，止試《孫》、《吳》書大義一場，第一等取四通、次二等三通、三等二通為中格。元祐四年，詔解試、省試增策一道。

In the first year of Yuanfeng, the cited text was promulgated. First grade: foot archery one stone with three of ten hits, mounted archery seven dou, five mounted martial arts, seven of ten on the Sun and Wu, five superior frontier policy essays, seven of ten on legal principles. Five or more items met exempted short assignments and one term of supervisory duty; three or more exempted short assignments and advanced half a year; two advanced half a year; one advanced one season; Second grade: foot archery eight dou with two of ten hits, mounted archery six dou, three mounted martial arts, five of ten on the 《Sun》 and 《Wu》, three coherent policy essays, five of ten on legal principles. Five items met exempted short assignments and advanced half a year; three advanced half a year; two advanced one season; one granted appointment; Third grade: foot archery six dou with one of ten hits, mounted archery five dou, two mounted martial arts, three of ten on the 《Sun》 and 《Wu》, three coherent policy essays, three of ten on legal principles, three of five on calculation and document work. Five items met advanced half a year; three advanced one season; two granted appointment. Foot archery used two arrows per round and mounted archery three—all codified as standards. In the fourth year, legal-principles testing was abolished. In the seventh year, only one session on the general principles of the 《Sun》 and 《Wu》 was tested; first grade required four correct, second three, third two. In Yuanyou 4, an edict added one policy essay to the qualifying and provincial examinations.

崇寧間，諸州置武學。立《考選升貢法》，仿儒學製，其武藝絕倫、文又優特者，用文士上舍上等法，歲貢釋褐；中等仍隸學俟殿試。凡試出官使臣，仍赴殿前司呈試。諸州武士試補，不得文士同一場。馬射三上垛，九斗為五分，八斗為四分，七斗為三分。九斗、八斗、七斗再上垛及一上垛，視此為差，理為分數。馬射一中帖當兩上垛，一中的當兩中帖。

During Chongning, military academies were established in the prefectures. The cited text was established, modeled on the Confucian system; those of peerless martial arts and exceptional literary merit used the literary upper-hall upper-grade method for yearly presentation and initial appointment; middle grade remained enrolled awaiting the palace examination. All palace agents tested for appointment still presented themselves at the Palace Front Office. Prefectural military supplemental candidates could not share an exam session with literary candidates. Mounted archery with three upper-butt hits: nine dou scored five parts, eight dou four parts, seven dou three parts. Additional upper-butt hits at nine, eight, or seven dou, and single upper-butt hits, were graded by this scale and calculated as points. One center-plate hit in mounted archery counted as two upper-butt hits; one bullseye counted as two center-plate hits.

舊制，武舉三年一試，命官不過三十餘人，後增額，以每貢者三人即取一以升上舍，積迭增展，遂至百人入流，比文額太優。四年，詔自今貢試上舍者，取十人入上等，四十人入中等，五十人入下等，皆補充武學內舍，人材不足聽闕之，餘不入等者，處之外舍。大抵以弓馬程文兩上一上、兩中一中、兩下一下相參以為第。凡州教諭，須州都監乃得兼，吏部取武舉、武士上舍出身者。

Under the old system, the military exam was triennial, appointing no more than thirty-odd men; later quotas rose, promoting one of every three presented to the upper hall until one hundred entered the ranks—far more generous than the literary quota. In the fourth year, an edict ordered upper-hall presentation exams to rank ten upper grade, forty middle, fifty lower—all as Military Academy inner hall, with vacancies if talent was insufficient; ungraded candidates went to the outer hall. Grades were generally determined by cross-referencing bow, horse, and policy essays—two upper plus one upper, two middle plus one middle, two lower plus one lower. Prefectural instructors could be held only by the prefectural chief controller; the Ministry of Personnel selected candidates from military examination and military upper-hall backgrounds.

政和三年，以隸學者眾，凡經三歲校試而不得一與者，除其籍。宣和二年，尚書省言：「州縣武學既罷，有願隸京城武學者，請用元豐法補試。舊制，不入學而從保舉以試者，附試武學外舍，通取一百人。偕上舍生發解。今既罷科舉，請依元豐法奏舉，歲終集闕下，免試補外舍生，赴次年公試。其春選升補推恩，依大觀法。」

In Zhenghe 3, as enrollment swelled, students who won no award in three years of school examinations were struck from the registry. In Xuanhe 2, the Secretariat reported: "Since prefectural military academies have been abolished, those wishing to enroll in the capital Military Academy request the Yuanfeng supplemental examination method. Under the old system, unenrolled candidates testing through guarantor recommendation were attached to the Military Academy outer hall, with one hundred admitted in all. They presented credentials together with upper-hall students. Now that the civil service examination has been abolished, they requested the Yuanfeng memorial-recommendation method: candidates would gather at the capital at year's end, enter the outer hall without a qualifying exam, and sit the public examination the following year. Spring selection promotions and grace grants shall follow the Daguan method."

靖康元年，詔諸路有習武藝、知兵書者，州長貳以禮遣送詣闕，毋限數，將親策而用之。

In Jingkang 1, an edict ordered all circuits to ceremoniously send to court anyone skilled in martial arts and versed in military texts, with no limit on numbers; the emperor would personally examine them and appoint them.

建炎三年，詔武舉人先經兵部驗視弓馬於殿前司，仍權就淮南轉運司別場附試《七書》義五道，兵機策二首。紹興五年，帝御集英殿策武舉進士，翌日閱試騎射，策入優等與保義、承節郎，平等承信郎，其武藝不合格者，與進義校尉。川、陝宣撫司類省試武藝合格人並補官。十二年，禦試，正奏名，策入優等承節郎，平等承信郎、進義校尉；特奏名，平等進義校尉，各展磨勘有差。十六年，始建武學。兵部上《武士弓馬及選試去留格》，凡初補入學，步射弓一石，若公、私試步騎射不中，即不許試程文，其射格自一石五斗以下至九斗，凡五等。

In Jianyan 3, military examinees were first inspected in bow and horse by the Ministry of War at the Palace Command, then provisionally tested at a separate Huainan Transport venue on five Seven Military Classics questions and two military-strategy essays. In Shaoxing 5, the emperor examined military jinshi by policy essay at Jiying Hall and reviewed mounted archery the next day. Top policy grades received Baoyi and Chengjie Lang; middle grade Chengxin Lang; those failing martial arts received Jinyi Xiaowei. Martial-arts qualifiers from the Sichuan-Shaanxi Pacification Commission's provincial-style exam were all appointed to office. In year 12, at the imperial exam, regular presented names with top policy grades received Chengjie Lang; middle grades Chengxin Lang or Jinyi Xiaowei; special presented names at middle grade received Jinyi Xiaowei, each with differing merit-review extensions. In year 16, the Military Academy was first established. The Ministry of War submitted regulations on warrior bow and horse and selection-exam retention. Initial entrants shot foot archery with a one-shi bow; failure in public or private foot or mounted archery barred policy essays. Bow grades ran from one shi five dou down to nine dou in five tiers.

二十六年，帝見武學頹弊，因諭輔臣曰：「文武一道也，今太學就緒，而武學幾廢，恐有遺才。」詔兵部討論典故，參立新製。凡武學生習《七書》兵法、步騎射，分上、內、外三舍，學生額百人，置博士一員，以文臣有出身或武舉高選人為之；學諭一員，以武舉補官人為之。凡補外舍，先類聚五人以上附私試，先試步射一石弓，不合格不得試程文，中格者依文士例試《七書》義一道。其內舍生私試，程文三在優等，弓馬兩在次優，公試入等，具名奏補。試上舍者，以就試人三取其一，以十分為率，上等一分，中等二分，下等七分，仍以三年與發解同試。凡內舍補上舍，以上舍試合格入等與行藝相參，兩上者為上等，一上一中或兩中及一上一下為中等，一中一下或兩下、一上一否為下等，仍不犯第三等罰、士行可稱者，具名奏補。二十七年，禦試第一名趙應熊武藝絕倫，又省試第一，特與保義郎、閣門祗候。二十九年，修立武舉入官資格；命武舉人自今依府監年數免解。

In year 26, seeing the Military Academy in decline, the emperor told his chief ministers: "Civil and military are one path. The Imperial Academy is now in order, but the Military Academy is nearly defunct—I fear we are losing talent." An edict ordered the Ministry of War to investigate precedents and draft new regulations. Military Academy students studied Seven Military Classics tactics and foot and mounted archery, divided into upper, inner, and outer halls with a quota of one hundred. One Erudite was drawn from civil officials with examination backgrounds or top military examinees; one Instructor from military-examination appointees. Outer-hall supplementation required groups of five or more for attached private exams: foot archery with a one-shi bow first, with failure barring policy essays; passers then took one Seven Military Classics question under the literary-student rule. Inner-hall private exams required three top policy grades and two near-top bow-and-horse grades plus a passing public exam before names were submitted for promotion. Upper-hall exams took one of three candidates on a ten-part scale—one upper, two middle, seven lower—and still ran on the three-year cycle with credential presentation. Inner-to-upper promotion cross-referenced upper-hall grades with conduct: two uppers ranked upper; one upper plus one middle, two middles, or one upper plus one lower ranked middle; one middle plus one lower, two lowers, or one upper plus one fail ranked lower—provided there was no third-grade penalty and conduct was commendable. In year 27, imperial exam first place Zhao Yingxiong had unmatched martial arts and had also topped the provincial exam; he was specially granted Baoyi Lang and Gate Attendant. In year 29, military-examination office-entry qualifications were codified; military examinees were henceforth exempt from credential presentation under the prefectural and supervisory year rule.

乾道二年，中書舍人蔣芾亦以為言，請以武舉登第者悉處之軍中。帝以問洪適，適對曰：「武舉人以文墨進，雜於卒伍非便也。」帝曰：「累經任者，可以將佐處之。」是歲，以登極推恩，武舉進士比文科正奏名例，第一名升一秩為成忠郎，第二、第三名依第一名恩例。

In Qiandao 2, Secretariat Drafter Jiang Fu made the same proposal: all military examination graduates should be placed in the army. The emperor asked Hong Shi, who replied: "Military examinees rise through literary skill—it is awkward to mix them among common soldiers." The emperor said: "Those with repeated service may be placed as commanders and aides." That year, accession grace treated military jinshi like literary regular presented names: first place rose one rank to Chenzhong Lang; second and third received first-place benefits.

五年，兵部請外舍有校定人，參考榜上等者，候滿一年，私試四入等及不犯三等以上罰，或有校定而參考在中下等，候再試參考入中等，聽升補外舍生，赴公試。舊，除射親許試五等弓外，步射、馬射止許試第三等以下弓，程文雖優而參考弓馬分數難以對入優等；自今許比上舍法，不以馬、步、射親，並通試五等。

In year 5, the Ministry of War requested that outer-hall students with ranked standing and upper cross-reference grades, after one year with four passing private exams and no third-grade-or-higher penalties—or those at middle-lower cross-reference who reached middle grade on re-exam—be allowed to advance to outer-hall status and sit the public exam. Formerly, only archery attendants could test all five bow grades; foot and mounted archery were limited to the third grade and below, so even excellent policy essays could not always yield upper grades when cross-referenced with bow and horse scores; henceforth the upper-hall rule applied: mounted, foot, and attendant archery alike could test all five grades.

吏部言：「武舉比試、發解、省試三場，依條以策義考定等第，具字號，會封彌所，以武藝並策義參考。今比試自依舊法，其解、省兩場，請依文士例，考定字號，先具奏聞，拆號放榜。」從之。初命武學生該遇登極覃恩，曾升補內舍或在學及五年曾經公、私試中人，並令赴省。是歲廷試，始依文科給黃牒，榜首賜武舉及第，餘並賜武舉出身。其年，頒武舉之法。令四川帥臣、憲、漕、知州軍監及寄居侍從以上各舉武士一員，興元府、利閬金洋階成西和鳳州各三員，拔其尤者送四川安撫司，解試類省，並如文科。

The Ministry of Personnel reported: "In the military exam's three stages—preliminary, credential, and provincial—regulations require policy grading, numbered papers, sealed-examination review, and cross-reference of martial arts with policy answers. The preliminary stage should follow the old rule; for credential and provincial stages, they asked to follow literary practice—grade and number papers, report to the throne, then unseal and publish results." The request was approved. Initially, Military Academy students eligible for accession universal grace—those promoted to the inner hall or enrolled five years with a public or private exam pass—were all sent to the provincial exam. That year's palace exam first issued yellow diplomas on the literary model: the top name received Military Examination Jinshi; all others received Military Examination Background. That year the military examination law was promulgated. Sichuan commanders, censors, transport officials, prefects, military commissioners, and resident attendants and above were each to recommend one warrior; Xingyuan, Lizhou, Jin, Yang, Jie, Cheng, Xihe, and Feng three each. The best were sent to the Sichuan Pacification Commission for credential and provincial-style exams on the literary model.

淳熙元年，議者請：「武學外舍生有校定公試合格，令試五等弓馬，與程文五等相參，入中上等者，據闕升補，餘俟再試入等升補。」從之。帝御幄殿，引見正奏名，呈試武藝。二年，以武科授官與文士不類，詔自今第一人補秉義郎，堂除諸司計議官，序位在機宜之上；第二、第三人保義郎，諸路帥司準備將領，代還，轉忠翊郎；第四、第五人承節郎，諸路兵馬監押，代還，轉保義郎：皆仿進士甲科恩例。

In Chunxi 1, petitioners asked that outer-hall students with ranked standing and passing public exams test five bow-and-horse grades cross-referenced with five policy grades; middle-upper ranks would fill vacancies for promotion, others would wait for re-exam promotion." The request was approved. At Canopy Hall the emperor received regular presented names and reviewed their martial arts. In year 2, because military appointments differed from literary ones, an edict made first place Bingyi Lang with direct appointment as a bureau planning officer, ranking above staff officers; second and third Baoyi Lang as circuit reserve commanders, rotating to Chengyi Lang; fourth and fifth Chengjie Lang as circuit troop supervisors, rotating to Baoyi Lang—all on the jinshi top-grade model.

四年，以文科狀元代還，例除館職，亦召武舉榜首為閣門舍人。五年，始立武學國子額，收補武臣親屬；其文臣親屬，願附補者亦聽。七年，初立《武舉絕倫並從軍法》：凡願從軍者，殿試第一人與同正將，第二、第三名同副將，五名以上、省試第一名、六名以下並同準備將；從軍以後，立軍功及人材出眾者，特旨擢用。帝曰：「武舉本求將帥之材，今前名皆從軍，以七年為限，則久在軍中，諳練軍政，他日可備委任。」八年，命特奏名補官，展減磨勘有差。九年，議者以為從軍之人，率多養望，不屑軍旅。詔自今職事勤恪者，從主帥保奏升差，懈惰者按劾。

In year 4, just as literary top graduates on rotation received academy posts, the military exam top name was also summoned as Gate Attendant. In year 5, a Military Academy Imperial-student quota was established for relatives of military officials; relatives of civil officials who wished attached entry were also allowed. In year 7, the Exceptional Military Talent and Military Service Law was enacted: volunteers received palace first place as Regular General, second and third as Deputy General, and five or more places, provincial first, or six or fewer as Reserve Commander; after service, those with military merit or outstanding talent received special imperial promotion. The emperor said: "The military exam exists to find commanders. Now top names all serve in the army; a seven-year term will let them master military affairs and become fit for future appointment." In year 8, special presented names were appointed with varying merit-review extensions or reductions. In year 9, commentators said military servicemen mostly sought easy prestige and disdained camp duty. An edict ordered that henceforth the diligent be promoted on commander recommendation and the slack investigated.

光宗紹熙元年，武臣試換文資，南渡以前許從官三人薦舉，紹興令敦武郎以下聽召保官二人，以經義、詩賦求試，其後太學諸生久不第者，多去從武舉，已乃鎖廳應進士第。凡以秉義或忠翊皆換京秩，恩數與第一人等。後以林穎秀言：「武士舍棄弓矢，更習程文，褒衣大袖，專做舉子。夫科以武名，不得雄健喜功之士，徒啟其僥幸名爵之心。」於是詔罷鎖廳換試。

In Guangzong's Shaoxi 1, military officials could test to exchange for civil credentials: before the southward migration three attendants could recommend; under Shaoxing, Dunwu Lang and below needed two guarantors and tested in classics and poetry. Later, long-failing Imperial Academy students often took the military exam, then the locked-hall jinshi exam. All who passed with Bingyi or Chengyi exchanged to capital rank with first-place benefits. Later, citing Lin Yingxiu: "Warriors abandon bow and arrow to study examination essays, don robes and wide sleeves, and devote themselves to being examination candidates. An exam named for martial arts attracts no bold warriors eager for merit—it only feeds opportunist hunger for fame and rank." An edict then abolished the locked-hall exchange exam.

寧宗即位，復其制，慶元五年，命兩淮、京西、湖北諸郡仿兵部及四川法，於本道安撫司試武士，合格者，赴行在解試，別立字號，分項考校，撥十名為解額，五名省額。

When Ningzong acceded, the system was restored. In Qingyuan 5, Two Huai, Jingxi, and Hubei prefectures were ordered to test warriors at circuit pacification commissions on the Ministry and Sichuan model; qualifiers went to the capital for credential exams with separate numbers and itemized grading—ten credential slots and five provincial slots.

理宗紹定元年，命武舉進士避親及所舉之人止避本廳，令無妨嫌官引試，若合格，則朝廷別遣官復試。淳祐九年，以北兵屢至，命極邊、次邊一體收試，仍量增解額五名、省額二名。是歲，武舉正奏名王時發已係從軍之人，充殿前司左軍統領，既登第，換授，特命就本職上與帶「同」字，以示優厚勸獎。

In Lizong's Shaoding 1, military jinshi kin-avoidance and recommended candidates needed avoid only their own hall; impartial officials would examine them, and if they passed, the court would send a separate official to re-examine them. In Chunyou 9, with repeated northern incursions, frontier and sub-frontier regions were ordered to recruit together, with credential quota raised by five and provincial quota by two. That year, regular presented name Wang Shifa was already serving as Left Army Commander-in-chief of the Palace Command; upon graduation and reassignment, he was specially allowed to keep his post with the prefix "Tong" as a generous reward.

度宗咸淳六年，命禮部貢院於武舉進士平等每百人內，取放待補十人，絕倫每百人內，取待補十三人。

In Duzong's Xianchun 6, the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall was ordered to take ten awaiting-appointment middle-grade military jinshi per hundred and thirteen exceptional candidates per hundred.

算學。崇寧三年始建學，生員以二百一十人為額，許命官及庶人為之。其業以《九章》、《周髀》及假設疑數為算問，仍兼《海島》、《孫子》、《五曹》、張丘建夏侯陽算法並曆算、三式、天文書為本科。本科外，人占一小經，願占大經者聽。公私試、三舍法略如太學。上舍三等推恩，以通仕、登仕、將仕郎為次。大觀四年，以算學生歸之太史局，並書學生入翰林書藝局，畫學生入翰林圖畫局，醫學生入太醫局。

Mathematics Learning. In Chongning 3 the school was established with a quota of 210 students, open to appointed officials and commoners. The curriculum used the Nine Chapters, Zhou Bi, and hypothetical problems for calculation questions, plus Sea Island, Sunzi, Five Departments, Zhang Qiujian, and Xiahou Yang algorithms along with calendrical calculation, Three Patterns, and astronomical texts as core subjects. Beyond the core, each student chose one minor classic; major classics were optional. Public and private exams and the three-hall system followed the Imperial Academy model. Upper-hall three-tier grace grants ranked Tongshi, Dengshi, and Jiangshi Lang in order. In Daguan 4, mathematics students went to the Astronomical Bureau; calligraphy students to the Hanlin Calligraphy Bureau; painting students to the Hanlin Painting Bureau; and medicine students to the Imperial Medical Bureau.

紹興初，命太史局試補，並募草澤人。淳熙元年春，聚局生子弟試曆算《崇天》、《宣明》、《大衍曆》三經，取其通習者。五年，以《紀元曆》試。九年，以《統元曆》試。十四年，用《崇天》、《紀元》、《統元曆》三歲一試。紹熙二年，命今歲春銓太史局試，應三全通、一粗通，合格者並特收取，時局生多闕故也。嘉定四年，命局生必俟試中，方許轉補。

Early in Shaoxing, the Astronomical Bureau was ordered to test for supplementation and recruit commoners. In Chunxi 1 spring, bureau staff's children were tested on calendrical calculation in the Chongtian, Xuanming, and Dayan Calendars; the proficient were selected. In year 5, testing used the Jiyuan Calendar. In year 9, testing used the Tongyuan Calendar. In year 14, the Chongtian, Jiyuan, and Tongyuan Calendars were tested on a three-year cycle. In Shaoxi 2, a spring Astronomical Bureau exam was ordered; those with three fully proficient or one roughly proficient answers were all specially admitted because bureau staff were badly understrength. In Jiading 4, bureau staff had to pass the exam before transfer supplementation.

理宗淳祐十二年，秘書省言：「舊典以太史局隸秘省，今引試局生不經秘書，非也。稽之於令，諸局官應試曆算、天文、三式官，每歲附試，通等則以精熟為上，精熟等則以習他書多為上，習書等則以占事有驗為上。諸局生補及二年以上者，並許就試。一年試曆算一科，一年試天文、三式兩科，每科取一人。諸同知算造官闕有試，翰林天文官闕有試，諸靈台郎有應試補直長者，諸正名學生有試問《景祐新書》者，諸判局闕而合差，諸秤漏官五年而轉資者，無不屬於秘書；而局官等人各置腳色，遇有差遣、改補、功過之類，並申秘書。今乃一切自行陳請，殊乖初意。自今有違令補差，及不經秘書公試補中者，中書執奏改正，仍從舊制，申嚴試法。」從之。

In Lizong's Chunyou 12, the Secretariat reported: "By old rule the Astronomical Bureau belonged to the Secretariat; bureau exams now bypass it—this is wrong. Checking regulations, bureau officials in calendrical calculation, astronomy, and Three Patterns took annual attached exams: among passes, mastery ranked first; equal mastery favored more auxiliary texts; equal texts favored verified divination. All bureau staff with two or more years of service could test. One year tested calendrical calculation alone; another year astronomy and Three Patterns; one person was chosen per subject. Associate Calendar Compiler vacancies, Hanlin astronomer vacancies, Platform Attendants testing for Chief Clerk, regular students questioned on the Jingyou New Treatise, bureau-chief vacancies for assignment, and clepsydra officials rotating after five years—all belonged to the Secretariat; and bureau officials kept personnel records; assignments, transfers, merits, and faults were all reported to the Secretariat. Now they all petition independently—far from the original intent. Henceforth, illegal appointments and supplementation without passing the Secretariat public exam would be reported by the Central Secretariat for correction; the old system would be restored and exam rules strictly enforced." The request was approved.

書學生，習篆、隸、草三體，明《說文》、《字說》、《爾雅》、《博雅》、《方言》，兼通《論語》、《孟子》義，願占大經者聽。篆以古文、大小二篆為法，隸以二王、歐、虞、顏、柳真行為法，草以章草、張芝九體為法。考書之等，以方圓肥瘦適中，鋒藏畫勁，氣清韻古，老而不俗為上；方而有圓筆，圓而有方意，瘦而不枯，肥而不濁，各得一體者為中；方而不能圓，肥而不能瘦，模仿古人筆畫不得其意，而均齊可觀為下。其三舍補試升降略同算學法，惟推恩降一等。自初置及並罷年數，悉同算學。

Calligraphy students studied seal, clerical, and cursive scripts; mastered the Shuowen, Character Explanations, Erya, Boya, and Fangyan; and also passed Analects and Mencius exegesis; major classics were optional. Seal script followed ancient and large/small seal models; clerical script the Two Wangs, Ouyang, Yu, Yan, and Liu in regular and running script; cursive draft cursive and Zhang Zhi's nine forms. Calligraphy was graded upper for balanced square and round and fat and thin, hidden tip and vigorous stroke, clear spirit and ancient resonance, aged yet not vulgar; middle for square with round brushwork, round with square intent, thin without withering, fat without muddiness, each achieving one style; lower for square without round, fat without thin, imitating ancients without grasping intent yet evenly presentable. Three-hall supplementation, exams, and promotion followed the mathematics model, but grace grants were one grade lower. From establishment through abolition, its timeline matched mathematics exactly.

畫學之業，曰佛道，曰人物，曰山水，曰鳥獸，曰花竹，曰屋木，以《說文》、《爾雅》、《方言》、《釋名》教授。《說文》則令書篆字，著音訓，餘書皆設問答，以所解義觀其能通畫意與否。仍分士流、雜流，別其齋以居之。士流兼習一大經或一小經，雜流則誦小經或讀律。考畫之等，以不仿前人而物之情態形色俱若自然，筆韻高簡為工。三舍試補、升降以及推恩如前法。惟雜流授官，止自三班借職以下三等。

Painting covered Buddhist/Taoist subjects, figures, landscape, birds and beasts, flowers and bamboo, and architecture, taught with the Shuowen, Erya, Fangyan, and Shiming. Shuowen required writing seal characters with phonetic glosses; other texts used Q&A to test grasp of painting intent. Students were divided into gentry and common streams with separate dormitories. Gentry students also studied one major or minor classic; common students recited a minor classic or read law. Painting was graded excellent when forms and colors seemed natural without imitating predecessors and brushwork was lofty and concise. Three-hall testing, supplementation, promotion, and grace followed the earlier method. Common-stream appointments stopped at three grades below Third Rank Provisional.

醫學，初隸太常寺，神宗時始置提舉判局官及教授一人，學生三百人。設三科以教之，曰方脈科、針科、瘍科。凡方脈以《素問》、《難經》、《脈經》為大經，以《巢氏病源》、《龍樹論》、《千金翼方》為小經，針、瘍科則去《脈經》而增《三部針灸經》。常以春試，三學生願與者聽。崇寧間，改隸國子監，置博士、正、錄各四員，分科教導，糾行規矩。立上舍四十人，內舍六十，外舍二百，齋各置長諭一人。其考試：第一場問三經大義五道；次場方脈試脈證、運氣大義各二道，針、瘍試小經大義三道，運氣大義二道；三場假令治病法三道。中格高等，為尚藥局醫師以下職，餘各以等補官，為本學博士、正、錄及外州醫學教授。

Medicine Learning initially belonged to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; under Shenzong a Supervising Bureau Chief and one Instructor were first appointed, with 300 students. Three departments were established: Internal Medicine, Acupuncture, and Surgery. Internal Medicine took the Suwen, Nanjing, and Maijing as major classics and the Chao Clan Pathogenesis, Nagarjuna Treatise, and Thousand Gold Formulary Supplement as minor classics; Acupuncture and Surgery dropped the Maijing and added the Three-Part Acupuncture-Moxibustion Classic. Examinations were regularly held each spring; students of the three medical schools who wished to participate were allowed to do so. During Chongning it was placed under the Directorate of Education, with four erudites, four directors, and four recorders appointed to teach by specialty and enforce discipline. Enrollment was set at forty upper-hall, sixty inner-hall, and two hundred outer-hall students; each hall had one chief instructor. The examinations were structured as follows: the first session posed five questions on the broad meaning of the three classics; the second session for internal medicine tested two questions each on pulse patterns and seasonal qi; for acupuncture and surgery, three questions on the minor classics and two on seasonal qi; the third session posed three hypothetical cases on treatment methods. Those who passed at the upper grade were appointed to posts from Imperial Pharmacy physician downward; the rest received appointments by grade as instructors at the school or as medical professors in other prefectures.

紹興中，復置醫學，以醫師主之。翰林局醫生並奏試人，並試經義一十二道，取六通為合格。乾道三年，罷局而存禦醫諸科，後更不置局而存留醫學科，令每舉附省闈別試所解發，太常寺掌行其事。淳熙十五年，命內外白身醫士，經禮部先附銓闈，試脈義一場三道，取其二通者赴次年省試，經義三場一十二道，以五通為合格，五取其一補醫生，俟再赴省試升補，八通翰林醫學，六通祗候，其特補、薦補並停。紹熙二年，復置太醫局，銓試依舊格。其省試三場，以第一場定去留，墨義、大義等題仿此。

During Shaoxing, medical studies were restored under the direction of a chief physician. Hanlin Bureau medical students and memorial-test candidates alike faced twelve questions on classic meaning, with six correct answers required to qualify. In Qiandao 3 the bureau was abolished but imperial-physician categories were retained. Later the bureau was not restored, but the medical subject remained, attached each cycle to the provincial examination's separate medical compound for recommendations, administered by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In Chunxi 15, commoner physicians throughout the realm were required to enter first through the Ministry of Rites selection compound and pass two of three pulse-meaning questions. Successful candidates then sat the provincial examination the following year—three sessions totaling twelve classic-meaning questions, with five passes required. One in five who qualified was appointed a medical student; after a second provincial examination, eight passes qualified for Hanlin medical studies and six for attendant service. Special and recommended replenishment were both abolished. In Shaoxi 2 the Imperial Medical Bureau was restored, with selection examinations following the former standards. In the three-session provincial examination, the first session determined pass or fail; written interpretation, broad meaning, and similar topics followed the same principle.

補道職，舊無試，元豐三年始差官考試，以《道德經》、《靈寶度人經》、《南華真經》等命題，仍試齋醮科儀祝讀。政和間，即州、縣學別置齋授道徒。蔡攸上《諸州選試道職法》，其業以《黃帝內經》、《道德經》為大經，《莊子》、《列子》為小經。提學司訪求精通道經者，不問已命、未仕，皆審驗以聞。其業儒而能慕從道教者聽。每路於見任官內，選有學術者二人為幹官，分詣諸州檢察教習。《內經》、《道德經》置博士，《聖濟經》兼講。道徒升貢，悉如文士。初入官，補志士道職，賜褐服，藝能高出其徒者，得推恩。道徒術業精退，州守貳有考課殿最罪法。陳州學生慕從道教，逾月而道徒換籍，殆與儒生相半。有宋瑀者，願改道徒內舍，獻《神霄玉清萬壽宮雅》一篇，特換志士，俟殿試。由是長倅以下受賞有差，其誘勸之重如此。宣和二年，學罷。

Replenishment of Daoist posts had formerly required no examination. In the third year of Yuanfeng officials were first dispatched to examine candidates, with questions drawn from the 《Classic of the Way and Its Power》, the 《Lingbao Salvation Scripture》, the 《True Classic of Southern Florescence》, and similar texts, and with tests of liturgical recitation for fasting and offerings. During Zhenghe, separate halls were established at prefectural and county schools to instruct Daoist disciples. Cai You submitted the 《Methods for Selecting and Testing Daoist Posts in the Prefectures》. The curriculum designated the 《Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic》 and the 《Classic of the Way and Its Power》 as major classics and the 《Zhuangzi》 and 《Liezi》 as minor classics. School intendants were to seek out those thoroughly versed in the Daoist canon, whether already appointed or not yet serving, verify their credentials, and report to the throne. Confucian scholars who wished to follow the Daoist teaching were also permitted to enroll. Each circuit selected two learned incumbent officials as executive officers to visit the prefectures and inspect instruction. Erudites were appointed for the 《Inner Classic》 and the 《Classic of the Way and Its Power》, with the 《Classic of Sagely Aid》 also included in the curriculum. Daoist disciples advancing to presentation followed the same procedures as literary scholars. On first entering office they were appointed to aspirant Daoist posts and granted brown robes; those whose accomplishment surpassed their fellows could receive conferred favor. When Daoist disciples' skills declined, prefects and vice prefects were authorized to grade their performance and impose penalties under established regulations. Students in Chen Prefecture flocked to the Daoist teaching; within a month so many had changed their registration to Daoist status that Daoist disciples nearly equaled Confucian students in number. A student named Song Yu asked to transfer to inner-hall Daoist status, presented an essay entitled 《Elegant Composition for the Jade Clarity Myriad Longevity Palace of the Divine Empyrean》, and was specially promoted to aspirant Daoist status pending the palace examination. Thereupon the chief administrator and his subordinates received differentiated rewards, showing how heavily such encouragement was weighted. In Xuanhe 2 the school was abolished.

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