事有定数:明人对科举功名的认识

自隋、唐以降,伴随着科举制的创立、发展与完善,科举入仕成为社会普遍追求的理想人生模式, 以科举制度、科举人物、科举故事为核心内容的科举文化是中国传统文化的一个独特的构成部分。观照明人关于科举人物、科举故事的诸多记载和议论,基本上可以认为,命定、风水、报应等传统思想,因其理论上的包容性和阐释中的灵活性,是明人解释科举功名现象的主要理论依据。这种现象的生成,既是科场激烈竞争所引发的焦虑与无奈的结果,也是明人对社会、自然整体认知局限的自白。

One Has His Own Destiny: People's Understanding of Success and Recognition in Imperial Examinations in the Ming Dynasty

With the establishing, developing and improving of the system of imperial examinations from Sui and Tang Dynasties onwards,being an official by taking part in imperial examinations had become a generally pursued ideal life pattern. The culture of imperial examinations, which focused on the systems, characters and stories about imperial examinations,became a unique part of traditional Chinese culture. According to the records and remarks about imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty, it can be generally argued that with its compatibility in theory and flexibility in explanation, the traditional ideas of destiny, Ceomantic omen and retribution, which are theoretically comprehensive and flexible, are the major arguments to explain the phenomenon of achieving success and winning recognition in imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty. This phenomenon results from the anxiety and helplessness caused by the competitive examinations as well as people's limitations in understanding of the society and nature.