Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination

ces were.
However, he and Zhang tongzhi had only made it this far by doing the same thing, so these words that were  harmful to others as well as himself could not be uttered.

Liu Zan remained silent and Cui Xie continued to recite that one direct and one contrary, one clear and one obscure, the four antithetical pillars of the eight-legged essay.
Finally, the work concluded with this praise, “In this way, none is lacking for the people during these seasons.
This is the so-called ‘the ruler is delighted by his people while the people rejoice in his reign’ ”.

Although Cui Xie had paid particular attention in sculpting his words and embedding his sentences with overly elaborate prose with quotes were littered everywhere, but, because there were numerous sincere lines of discussion, the essay did not appear pretentious or flashy.
It is just that, this attitude of abandoning one’s own style in order to cater to the examiner was really not advisable! It was vital that one must correct his crooked ways before it is too late! 

Liu Zan commented: “When you use ancient prose, your writing is much more lively and when you write using the other style, your essay comes off as slightly restrained.
Although this wasn’t really a problem for the prefectural examination, in the future when time came for the triennial provincial examinations and metropolitan examinations, the examiners for these rounds were to be appointed right before the start.
A few days is not enough time for you to finish analyzing all of the examiner’s articles, so how is it possible for you to modify your style according to their preferences? From now on, simply write according to your own style.
The principles and moral standards are all there, and the veins and spirit are all connected.
Although the prose is somewhat simple, it can be regarded as unadorned and clean.
Those who are familiar with reading essays will naturally know how to appreciate it.”

Cui Xie straightened his back and bowed his head to receive the instruction.
He then also recited an essay based on the prompt 《Profound was King Wen, the red bows unbent》which was opened by “The Sage’s ultimate virtuousness and benevolence allows him to perform rites and music and go on punitive expeditions.
“

This essay was also well written, but it adhered strictly to the rules, much like a carpenter’s straight line marker.
But, the principles established were lofty, clean, righteous and was also considered to be a good article.
Imperial Censor Liu had already said his admonishments and criticisms earlier, so upon getting to this point, he stopped picking at Cui Xie’s faults and just commented on a few good lines.
Liu Zan would then pick a few lines and explain the classical allusions behind it to Colonel Xie.

For the discursive essay for the second round of examinations, it was only a small essay so the examiners did not attach too much importance to this question.
As long as one’s writing was smooth, flowed well, contained one’s own thoughts and used the classics correctly, then this was considered to be enough.
Imperial Censor Liu did not tarry too long on this essay, but rather, urged Cui Xie to recite the last exam question, the policy essay.

This time, the policy question was related to disaster relief.

At the beginning of the first month, a major earthquake rumbled through the capital.
In the Yongping Prefecture, most of the counties within its borders were more or less somewhat affected by this calamity.
Prefectural Magistrate Wang Wen was aware that this time, many of the students participating in the prefectural examinations had been impacted by the earthquake, and the students’ circumstances and conditions when preparing for the examinations had not been very good.
Therefore, this policy question was to be graded leniently.
As long as the examinee paid attention to their own county’s state of affairs, then there was something to write about in the essay.

Cui Xie had personally participated in the disaster relief efforts in Qian’an County.
He not only described his viewpoint on the matter as a youth from the later generation, but he more so wrote in accordance with County Magistrate Qi’s conduct and way of handling matters.
In this content, he described how to present a petition to the Imperial court to request disaster relief funds and the opening of granaries; how the county organized to provide critical care for the common people to treat those injured and tore down decrepit houses; how the county obtained donations from the rich families, distributed millet congee and cotton-padded clothes; how the county employed medicine and doctors to prevent plague; how the county housed those who had lost their homes in nursing homes, temples and other places….

Furthermore, there was reconstruction work after the catastrophe passed: there was work provided that helped relieve poverty and such labor concentrated on repairing collapsed buildings and roads; the county personally came forward to lend grain seeds and farm implements to the common people, so as not to delay the spring plowing; the local Chief presented a petition to the Imperial court requesting that the superiors exempt the county from the New Year’s corvée labor, summer taxes and payment of autumn grain crops, horses, grasses and other such tribute, to allow the people to rest.

This essay, compared to the one about water control, was much more detailed and reliable.
The sentences had also undergone repeated revision and sculpting, so it flowed smoothly.

Imperial Censor Liu had silently listened this entire time and once the entire piece had been recited, his voice became a little heavy as he commented: “The capital, Yongping, and the Xuanfu and Datong garrisons sustained damage from the earthquake.
You must have prepared for this kind of essay in advance.”

Cui Xie bolted upright and replied in an unflustered manner, “Yes, since such a big earthquake occurred this year, this student thought it would naturally be a topic on the examinations.
Hence, I had prepared my own prompts and essays in advance.”

Liu Zan dipped his head up and down: “This essay is much better than the one discussing policy on water conservation.
The words have substance and it lists countermeasures available for the Imperial court to employ.  Originally, I had suspected that this essay’s prompt had been figured out by the County Magistrate in advance and had instructed someone to write this essay for you.
Now that I have seen your essays from the prefectural examinations, there is no reason for my suspicions anymore.”

He lifted himself out of the chair and strided over until he was directly in front of Cui Xie, pressing against the others’ shoulder to apologize, “This essay on policy and that essay on the classics have the same style of writing and style, if you had called for someone else to substitute for you, they would not have been able to emulate this tone.
Even if the examination questions had been leaked beforehand, such an essay would not be as careful and meticulous as this one.
I was wrong about you.”

Cui Xie wanted to stand up, but Imperial Censor Liu’s hand was pressing down rather hard, as if insisting on obstructing him.  

Cui Xie struggled a few times but still couldn’t get up, so he simply sat calmly and cupped his hands to reply, “This is also human nature.
When this student first arrived in Qian’an, to be able to write an essay was an unthinkable task.
This is something Colonel Xie also knew.
Now that I have made my way to the prefectural examinations, even this student suspects that my achievement has emerged from dishonest bias.”

Only then did a smiling expression emerge from Liu Zan’s face.
Liu Zan patted Cui Xie’s shoulder heavily and exclaimed, “What dishonesty, you deserve such a score! Let’s slowly talk about the prefectural examinations.
When Dai xiong presides over the yuanshi, the last of the three entry-level examinations, if he does not make you a shengyuan, I will return to the capital to ask for an explanation!”

Cui Xie’s anxious heart was finally soothed and held steadfast.
He was unable to stop a grin from appearing on his face as he lowered his head in gratitude, “Many thanks for da-ren’s praise, this student will return to study with a peace of mind and strive to render service to repay the Imperial court’s kindness one day.”

Child prodigy ah! Child prodigy indeed!
County Magistrate Qi had hit the nail on the head, Cui Xie’s talent was truly hard to come by.
It is a pity that his studies was delayed in his earlier years, otherwise, if it only took him one year enough to land such a high marking as a shengyuan, if he had been able to study at home with peace of mind, wouldn’t he had been just like that famous child prodigy, Li Dongyang?

Footnotes:

Tongzhi: otherwise known as Vice-Commissioners (rank 2b) of the five Branch Regional Military Commissions under the bigger institution of the Five Chief Military Commissions that supervised professional military affairs with the Ministry of War. Jinshi: highest rank a scholar can get and is attained after passing the imperial court exam, when scholars attain this rank they usually become court officials.
It should be noted that the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) had a very large number of jinshi graduates reaching up to around 24, 536 in total. Two lists: Scholars who passed both the juren and jinshi examinations; considered to be very impressive and high achieving.
In the imperial examination, the jinshi examinations were divided into A and B subjects, which is the so-called ‘two rankings’.
In the Ming Dynasty, the A examination was the jinshi examination and the juren examination was the township/provincial examination.
They were called the A list and the B list collectively called the two lists.
In the imperial examinations, the list of candidates for juren is called the B list, and the list of jinshi is called the A list.
Anyone who passes the B list and then passes the A list to become an official is called ‘born of the two lists’.