外网热议：古代中国人是如何备考科举的？难道他们只是日复一日地反复诵读那几十卷经书吗？
How did the ancient Chinese study for the imperial examination? Did they just repeatedly read dozens of scrolls every day?
译文简介
答案并非一目了然，原因之一是：科举考试最早在隋朝出现，并在唐朝发展成为一套完整的体系。它持续了一千多年。正因为如此，为了完善考试制度，进行了许多改革。
正文翻译
答案并非一目了然，原因之一是：科举考试最早在隋朝出现，并在唐朝发展成为一套完整的体系。它持续了一千多年。正因为如此，为了完善考试制度，进行了许多改革。
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Thanks for the A2A.
The answer is not immediately obvious, for one reason. The Imperial Examination first started in its prototype form in the Sui Dynasty, and developed into a complete system in the Tang Dynasty. It has continued for over a thousand years. Because of this, there have been many changes that were implemented to improve the examination system. Therefore, some details of the Imperial Examination might just be “for this particular Dynasty only,” but when we broadly talk about it, I might have wrongly drew a conclusion that the practice was for all periods (if possible, I will outline when such changes have been made).
感谢邀请回答。
答案并非一目了然，原因之一是：科举考试最早在隋朝出现，并在唐朝发展成为一套完整的体系。它持续了一千多年。正因为如此，为了完善考试制度，进行了许多改革。因此，科举考试的一些细节可能只是“针对特定朝代”，但当我们泛泛而谈时，可能会错误地得出结论认为这种做法适用于所有时期（如果可能，我将概述何时进行了此类更改）。
The Imperial Examination always focused on Confucianism texts, but it had two specific subjects: 明經 (ming-jing) and 進士 (jin-shi). One roughly translates to “understanding the texts,” and the other means “forward/progressive scholar.”
科举考试始终以儒家经典为重点，但它有两个具体科目：明经和进士。前者大致翻译为“理解经文”，后者则意为“进取/进步的学者”。
(There’s a reason why we always say: “Confucius said…” because this was literally “gonna be on the exams!”)
（我们总是说：“孔子曰……”是有原因的，因为这简直就是“考试必考！”）
明經 was more like reading and comprehension; certain sections of text were picked and you would draw upon Confucian texts to address them.
進士 was essay writing with social commentary. This is generally considered the more well-known form of Imperial Examination. In the mid-Song Dynasty (Wang Anshi era), this became the only course for examination.
Some estimates state that 明經 had a 10–20% pass rate, while 進士 had a 1–2%. Also, you would expect that 明經 was much easier to answer in an exam. There was a slogan: 三十老明經，五十少進士, “thirty is too old for ming-jing, fifty is still young enough for jin-shi.”
如果我做一个粗略的现代比较：
明经更像是阅读理解；会选取文本的某些部分，你需要引用儒家经典来解答。
进士是带有社会评论的议论文写作。这通常被认为是更广为人知的科举形式。在宋朝中期（王安石时期），这成为唯一的考试科目。
一些估计表明，明经的通过率在10-20%之间，而进士的通过率在1-2%之间。而且，你会觉得明经在考试中更容易作答。当时有一句口号：三十老明经，五十少进士，“三十岁考明经太老，五十岁考进士还年轻。”
Provincial level: This level gathered all scholars of the local region for examination. Different regions had different academic levels, but examinees were not allowed to migrate to different areas just to get an easy pass. Those who pass were given the title 舉人 (ju-ren) while the top 1 gets the title 解元 (jie-yuan). A 舉人 was not an official minister, but had an honourary social status even if he didn’t progress further.
National level: This is the most common version of the exam we know and see in fictional works. For those who passed the first stage, you’ve earned the right to attend the national level exam held in the capital city. Those from far provinces would have to make their travel arrangements there, sometimes it wasn’t an easy process. This exam was graded by the Department of Rites 禮部.
Imperial level: This stage was added in the Song Dynasty, and was overseen by Emperor himself! (or a high-ranking representative) This didn’t have a set format, sometimes the Emperor would ask you to elaborate a part of your essay, or give you a specific scenario or interview. Unlike the last two, examinees who make it to this stage usually pass, barring some exception circumstances like being caught cheating or saying something controversial. They were still given a ranking and the highest one was the legendary 狀元 (zhuang-yuan).
Because of the very nature of essay writing, the exams were usually graded subjectively. It was extremely rare for one to get 1st place in all three exam stages. Those who do are called 連中三元, and there had only been 16 in the entire thousand year history of Imperial Examinations!
科举考试还有三个阶段：
乡试（省级）：这一级别汇集了当地所有士子进行考试。不同地区的学术水平不同，但考生不允许为了通过考试而迁徙到其他地区。通过者被授予“举人”称号，而第一名则获得“解元”称号。举人并非正式官员，但即使未能晋升，也享有荣誉社会地位。
会试（国家级）：这是我们所熟知、在文学作品中常见的考试版本。通过第一阶段的考生，获得了参加在京城举行的国家级考试的权利。来自偏远省份的考生需要自行安排行程，有时这并非易事。这项考试由礼部评判。
殿试（皇帝级）：这一阶段在宋朝增加，由皇帝亲自（或由高级代表）主持！它没有固定的形式，有时皇帝会要求你详细阐述文章的某个部分，或者给你一个特定的场景进行面试。与前两个阶段不同，进入这一阶段的考生通常会通过，除非有作弊或发表争议言论等特殊情况。他们仍会获得排名，最高者是传说中的状元。
由于议论文写作的性质，考试通常是主观评分。在所有三个考试阶段都获得第一名的情况极其罕见。做到这一点的人被称为“连中三元”，在科举考试长达千年的历史中，只有16人！
Now, onto the original question, how would one scholar study for the Imperial Examinations?
To be honest, if I time-travelled to ancient China, I would most definitely fail. Back when I was in high school I was very bad at essay writing. Don’t take my advice too seriously!
Read Confucianism texts. Confucianism as a social philosophy, and all exam questions ultimately would come from The Four Books and Five Classics 四書五經. However, to be a well-educated scholar, you were expected to read many other texts as well. When you write those essays, you would be praised if you drew reference from a variety of sources!
Build fame as a scholar and network with the scholarly community. There were many scholars who became well-known and famous in the circle before they’ve even attended the exam. Some scholars, upon entering the capital for examination, became students to high-ranking scholar ministers. Even if their mentors could not grant them favourable marks in the exam (exam essays had the author name classified, to avoid cheating), their mentors might promote their fame or make recommendations even if they didn’t pass. For example, Wang Yangming actually failed his first and second exams, with some speculation that he was already quite famous and the examiners intentionally failed him to not make him cocky.
现在，回到最初的问题，一个士子如何备考科举？
老实说，如果我穿越回古代中国，我肯定会考砸。我高中时作文写得很差。所以别把我的建议太当真！
阅读儒家经典。 儒家是一种社会哲学，所有考题最终都出自《四书五经》。然而，作为一个受过良好教育的士子，你还需要阅读许多其他典籍。如果你在写文章时能引经据典，博采众长，会受到赞扬！
熟悉议论文写作技巧。 议论文写作遵循特定的格式，到明代，标准格式被称为“八股文”。在文章格式方面，有要求：“如何写引言”、“如何阐述你的主要论点”、“你的结论必须有多长”。如果你忘记写合适的引言或结论，或者论点过多或过少，你的文章就会不及格。高水平的八股文被详细记录并广为流传，是准备考试的士子必读之物。把它想象成准备大学考试，并购买一本“20xx年获奖论文集”。
建立士子名声，并与士子群体建立联系。 许多士子在参加考试之前就已经在圈子里小有名气。有些士子在进京赶考时，会成为高级官员的门生。即使他们的导师无法在考试中给予他们优待（考卷上作者姓名是保密的，以避免作弊），但他们的导师可能会广为传播，或者即使他们没有通过考试也会给予推荐。例如，王阳明实际上第一次和第二次考试都失败了，有人猜测他当时已经很有名了，考官故意让他不及格，以免他骄傲自满。
As a side note, I’m sure many people know about this man named Hong xiuquan. He was unsatisfied with his life, declared himself brother of Jesus Christ, and started a Christian cult that brewed into a civil war that killed 30–40 million people.
Regarding his own attempts, he did indeed fail his Imperial Examination. He didn’t fail once, he failed four times. Also, he only ever attended Guangzhou regional exams - the first stage.
Though as we know, the exams only had a 1–2% chance of passing, so he was far from the only one. There were many scholars who spent their entire lives studying and preparing for examinations, never really getting there in the end.
顺便提一下，我敢肯定很多人都知道洪秀全这个人。他对自己的生活不满，自称是耶稣基督的兄弟，并创立了一个基督教邪教，最终演变成一场导致3000万至4000万人死亡的内战。
关于他自己的考试尝试，他确实在科举考试中落榜了。他不是失败了一次，而是失败了四次。而且，他只参加过广州的乡试——也就是第一阶段。
然而，众所周知，科举考试的通过率只有1-2%，所以他远非唯一一个。有许多士子一生都在学习和准备考试，最终却从未成功。
Lynne Li
Thanks for asking.
It’s a little bit complicated, since apart from writing answers to questions about ancient canons, for instance, Four Books of Confucian Canons, i.e., Great Learning, or 大学 in Chinese, Doctrine of the Mean, or 中庸 in Chinese, Analects, or 论语 in Chinese, and Mencius, or 孟子 in Chinese, there were other kinds of questions in these examinations.
感谢提问。
这有点复杂，因为除了回答关于古代经典的问题，例如儒家四书，即《大学》、《中庸》、《论语》和《孟子》之外，这些考试中还有其他类型的问题。
这是一幅殿试的画作，殿试是科举制度中最高级别的考试。
For instance, there is a category, 策问, which could be translated as policy questions in English, centered on the more practical and relevant questions concerning about the governing and managing the state, since this system was used as a tool to sext competent candidates to staff the bureaucracy.
例如，有一个类别叫做“策问”，在英语中可以翻译为政策问题，它侧重于有关治国理政的更实际和相关的问题，因为这个系统是用来选拔有能力的候选人来充实官僚机构的工具。
下面两张图可以说明这一点。第一张图显示了1474年至1600年间，应天府（即南京市）考试中出现频率最高的15种题型的百分比。
The second one mentioned the percentage of Top 15 kinds of questions that appeared in the examinations in Zhejiang Province, from 1646 to 1859. These two pictures are from a book, Civil Examinations and Meritocracy in Late Imperial China, by Professor Benjamin Elman. They are on the page of 253 and 254, repsectively.
第二张图显示了1646年至1859年间，浙江省考试中出现频率最高的15种题型的百分比。这两张图均选自本杰明·埃尔曼教授的著作《晚期中华帝国的科举与精英管理》，分别位于第253页和第254页。
As you see, these candidates not only needed to memorise the ancient classics, they also needed to keep abreast of the current affairs and learn about other subjects, such as, Law, National Defense and Military Matters.
正如你所看到的，这些考生不仅需要记忆古代经典，还需要了解时事，学习其他科目，例如法律、国防和军事事务。
Let's looked at the questions of the imperial examination system of the Qing Dynasty.
The first part is about history.
我们来看看清朝科举考试的题目。
第一部分是关于历史的。
Question 1 is about how to establish a national system
Question 2 is about how to put down border rebellion
Question 3 is about how to modify laws and national systems.
Question 4: How to recruit outstanding talents
Question 5, about response and negotiation in war
问题1是关于如何建立国家制度的。
问题2是关于如何平定边疆叛乱的。
问题3是关于如何修改法律和国家制度的。
问题4：如何招募优秀人才。
问题5：关于战争中的应对与谈判。
What does this title mean? This is about two things. The first is that in the second year of Xuanhe by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, that is, 1120 AD, the Northern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty formed an alliance to break the Liao Dynasty; the second is that in the first year of Duanping by Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, that is, in 1234 AD, the Southern Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty were destroyed. Gold thing. Just knowing this is not enough. This is a policy thesis, which is to prove this issue. Why did the Northern Song Dynasty unite with the Jin Dynasty? Why did the Southern Song Dynasty unite with the Yuan Dynasty? Is this reasonable? I just want to ask the candidates whether it is advisable to "use barbarians to control barbarians"?
问题5的分析如下：
这个题目是什么意思？这涉及两件事。第一是宋徽宗宣和二年，即公元1120年，北宋与金朝结盟攻辽；第二是宋理宗端平元年，即公元1234年，南宋与元朝联手灭金。仅仅知道这些是不够的。这是一篇策论文，旨在论证这个问题。北宋为何要联金？南宋为何要联元？这合理吗？我只是想问问考生，“以夷制夷”是否可取？
这个问题必须结合当时中国所处的国际形势来分析，也就是1904年。那时，清朝正被世界列强虎视眈眈。如何处理与外国的关系？尤其当时，日俄战争已经爆发。日本和俄罗斯在中国东北的土地上作战，争夺对朝鲜半岛和中国辽东半岛的控制权。两个邻居打架，却是在我家打。清朝人如何看待这件事？这两个国家都在欺负我们，我们该怎么办？
如果中国要对付日本，应该和俄罗斯交好吗？如果远交近攻，会不会引狼入室？北宋联金攻辽是为了收复燕赵之地。成功了吗？南宋联元围困被困在蔡州的金哀宗。灭金的后果是什么？虽然他们暂时报了金灭北宋的耻辱，但下一步就是被元朝灭亡！这个教训太大了！作为一名学生，你如何看待中国当前的国际形势？这是为了考察考生通过历史分析当下、通过历史兴衰理解当今世界治理的分析能力。
第二部分是关于世界各国的政治和技术。
The third part is the theory of Confucianism
第三部分是儒家思想理论。
The fourth part is based on your own knowledge, how do you govern the country's politics, military, economy, and culture.
第四部分是根据你自己的知识，你如何治理国家的政治、军事、经济和文化。
According to this real test question, if you must be proficient in history, literature, economics, various technologies, national systems, military management, etc., you can pass the exam.
It can be said that as a top scholar, you have a doctorate in all subjects including history, literature, economics, technology, politics, and military.
根据这个真实的考题，你必须精通历史、文学、经济学、各种技术、国家制度、军事管理等，才能通过考试。
可以说，作为一名顶尖的士子，你拥有包括历史、文学、经济学、技术、政治和军事在内的所有学科的博士学位。
Actually it’s quite interesting question. Most Chinese even cannot anwser due to lack of interests and back ground knowledge. Let me try to explain from my understanding.
这实际上是一个相当有趣的问题。大多数中国人甚至无法回答，因为缺乏兴趣和相关背景知识。让我尝试从我的理解来解释。
竹简制作的卷轴在汉代到唐代之间被纸质书籍取代，这种变化持续了至少400年。而科举考试制度始于隋朝，并在宋朝基本完善。这意味着，我们备考时读的是书，而不是卷轴。
另一方面，科举考试是进入官僚体系的途径。皇帝需要选拔有能力的人来帮助他治理国家，所以标准必须严格。
There’s 6 items of the exam, used to sext talents suitable for different fields. They’re 秀才科 (general), 明经科 (explain the classical), 俊士科 (draft instrument), 进士科 (design policy), 明法科 (draft law), 明字科 (paper work, high requirement of hand writing and speed), 明算科 (math, statistical calculation)
考试有六个科目，用于选拔适合不同领域的人才。它们是：秀才科（普通类）、明经科（解释经典）、俊士科（起草文书）、进士科（设计政策）、明法科（起草法律）、明字科（文书工作，对书写和速度要求高）、明算科（数学，统计计算）。
Besides these, in Ming and Qing Dynasty, the Emperor opened 武科, which means good skill of fight and command. It’s the only way to be a commander in peace time.
除此之外，在明清两代，皇帝还开设了武科，这意味着需要具备良好的战斗和指挥技能。这是和平时期成为指挥官的唯一途径。
以健康的方式治理帝国是一项非常复杂的工作。仅仅重复阅读有限的书籍是远远不够的。
第三部分是儒家思想理论。
In a Japanese animation, not at all the best source of history, the story is recounted of the fist and last woman to pass the exams and also the youngest boy to ever take the exams.
在一个日本动画片中，虽然绝非最佳的历史来源，但讲述了第一个也是最后一个通过考试的女性，以及有史以来参加考试最年轻的男孩的故事。
这个男孩很穷，所以他常常无法练习写作，直到冬天来临，他才能在雪地上写象形文字。
Mathematics was also important.
History was a big part of the exams and you had to know the various bureaucracies and their functions too and how they interacted.
因为你必须阅读和写作，而可能需要学习大约6000个不同的符号。
数学也很重要。
历史是考试的重要组成部分，你还必须了解各种官僚机构及其职能，以及它们如何相互作用。
礼仪或恰当的行为也是必需的，特别是与同僚官员以及各种皇室成员的关系。——举一个儒家经典中得到很好支持的例子，如果你不想见的人送你一只猪作为礼物，比如火腿、培根等，你绝对需要亲自去拜访他们，感谢这份礼物。——孔子就是通过这种送猪的策略，被引诱出隐居地，被迫接受了一份政府工作。
While pottery has been found in trash piles in Israel with writing on it, often random words, probably done by a youth there who wold literally write on anything he could找到, even the shards of a broken pot so the poor sometimes learning to read and write is not unthinkable.
虽然在以色列的垃圾堆中发现了带有文字的陶器，通常是随意写的词语，可能是一个年轻人写的，他会 literalmente（此处原文英文为literally，可能想表达“真的”）在任何能找到的东西上写字，甚至是破碎陶片的碎片，所以穷人有时学习读写难到不可想象。
第四部分是基于你自己的知识，你如何治理国家的政治、军事、经济和文化。
It can be said that as a top scholar, you have a doctorate in all subjects including history, literature, economics, technology, politics, and military.
根据这个真实的考题，你必须精通历史、文学、经济、各种技术、国家制度、军事管理等，才能通过考试。
可以说，作为一名顶尖的士子，你拥有历史、文学、经济、技术、政治和军事等所有学科的博士学位。
The imperial examination system in ancient China was a way for individuals to enter government service, and it was based on knowledge of Confucian classics and Chinese literature. To prepare for the examination, candidates would typically spend several years studying with a private tutor or at a school. They would focus on memorizing and understanding the Confucian classics, as well as learning how to write in the literary style that was required for the examination. It would not be uncommon for candidates to read dozens of scrolls every day in order to prepare. Additionally, they would also practice writing essays and giving oral presentations, which were also part of the examination.
中国古代的科举制度是个人进入政府服务的一种途径，它以儒家经典和中国文学知识为基础。为了准备考试，考生通常会花几年时间与私人教师或在学校学习。他们会专注于记忆和理解儒家经典，以及学习如何以考试所需的文学风格写作。考生每天阅读几十卷书来准备考试并不少见。此外，他们还会练习写文章和进行口头陈述，这也是考试的一部分。