明代科举各级考试的规模及其录取率

明中叶后,各省直的科考规模在四五千人至数万人之间,平均录取率估计在10%上下。乡试录取率,明初一般在10%上下;成、弘间定为5.9%;嘉靖末年又降为3.3%;而实际录取率又低于此。会试录取率,自洪武至万历中平均为8.6%;其中,洪武至永乐二年平均为21.7%,永乐四年至万历中期平均为8.4%。殿试规模和录取数在理论上皆等于同科会试录取数。永乐二年后,明廷共在51科14938名二、三甲进士中考选了1277名庶吉士,平均录取率为8.55%。上述录取率,都是在朝廷调控下形成的,并非完全自由竞争的结果。而之所以进行调控,又是由官缺的有限性和科举取士用途的单一性矛盾造成的。

The Scale of Different Level Imperial Examinations in the Ming Dynasty and its Enrollment Rate

After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the scale of the Ke-kao was between 4 or 5 thousand and tens of thousands of people in each province, its average enrollment rate was estimated about 10. The enrollment rate of the Xiang-shi was usually about 10 in the beginning of the Ming Dynasty,During the period of the Cheng-Hong,the enrollment rate was stipulated 5.9 ;in the last year of the Jia-Jing ,it was stipulated 3.3 again;actual enrollment rate was lower than the one .The average enrollment rate of the Hui-shi was 8.6 ,from the period of the Hong-Wu to the middle of the Wan-li; among them , 21.7 from the the Hong-Wu to the year 2 of the Yong-Le, and 8.4 from the year 4 of the Yong-Le to the middle of the Wan-li. The scale and enrollment amount of the Dian-shi was equal to the Hui-shi that year in theory. After the year 2 of the Yong-Le, the Ming government selected 1277 Shu-ji-shi from 14938 second and third-class jin-shi of 51 the Dian-shi, the average enrollment rate was 8.55 .The above-mentioned enrollment rate all was formulated under the regulation of the government, it was caused by the paradox between the limitation of position and the sole use of the imperial examination.