Chapter Nineteen: The Imperial Examination and Various Disciplines (With Gratitude to Patron Huan Qiu)

In the sweltering summer of Fujian, the land and sky seemed transformed into a vast steaming basket. It was only morning, the sun had barely risen, yet a brief stroll outdoors left one drenched in sweat as if soaked in syrup. In the thatched hut where Zhang Yue and his companions studied, all the windows were wide open, but the heat still suffused the air, impossible to escape.

After noon, Guo Lin and Miss Miao remained seated in the hut, reading diligently. Zhang Yue, unable to endure the oppressive heat, borrowed a bamboo couch from the lame servant, moved it beneath the shade of pine trees, and set up a mosquito net to rest there. Zhang Yue slept soundly for an hour or two beneath the trees, and when he awoke, he did not return to the hut to read, but instead wandered to the creek to swim.

Immersed in the cool water, Zhang Yue felt his energy restored, the lethargy from the sun vanished, and he swam vigorously for nearly half an hour. Once the heat had abated, he dressed, carried his shoes and socks barefoot, and returned to the hut. At times like this, Zhang Yue could not help but chuckle when he saw Guo Lin, tormented and barely recognizable from the heat.

Normally, Guo Lin might wear a short shirt or an inner garment while reading in the hut, but with Miss Miao present, he was obliged to don a full-length robe and proper footwear, covering himself thoroughly so that not a patch of skin showed except his face. Even if Guo Lin wanted to change, the burly family servant outside kept a watchful eye, and he dared not.

By now, daylight still lingered, and Miss Miao had gathered her belongings, ready to leave with her servant. What Zhang Yue did not know was that, earlier that day, Miss Miao and Guo Lin had such a conversation in the hut.

Miss Miao, observing Zhang Yue from afar as he lay beneath the trees, hands folded behind his head, legs propped high, clad in a short shirt with his belly exposed, using only a palm fan for modesty as he napped, could not help but be surprised.

“Senior Brother Zhang actually sleeps during the day?” she remarked.

Guo Lin, sweating profusely as he fanned himself and recited from his papers, replied, “He always does this.”

“In winter, the days are short and nights long; once it grows dark, lamps must be lit. If one does not use the summer for reading, when else?”

Guo Lin said, “Although he is somewhat lazy, his intelligence far surpasses ours.”

“How so?”

“How long did it take you to memorize the Classic of Filial Piety?”

Miss Miao had studied the women’s curriculum, which mostly prepared ladies for managing households and honoring their parents. She had read the Biographies of Exemplary Women, the Admonitions for Women, as well as the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects. Generally, women’s studies stopped at that, but Miss Miao had also ventured into the Book of Rites and the Book of Songs. Arithmetic was her only weakness; in reading, few could match her.

She thought for a moment and said, “When the teacher taught me, it took me three or four days altogether.”

“You are indeed clever; it took me... three days as well. But as for Junior Brother Zhang, he needed only one day!”

Miss Miao’s eyes flickered with surprise, then she nodded, “No wonder... He relies on his ability to memorize at a glance, so he doesn’t need to work hard at reading. Yet a shallow pool fills easily; this is not admirable, not the mark of a true scholar.”

Guo Lin was taken aback. “Then what is admirable? What makes a true scholar?”

Miss Miao spoke softly, “Of course, one who possesses both talent and diligence, who remains humble and observes propriety... Like... like...” Her voice dwindled to a whisper.

At first, Guo Lin did not understand whom she meant, but then his face reddened as he bowed his head, tightening his robe further and resuming his upright reading posture.

Miss Miao smiled at this, glanced at the servant outside, and thought to herself that in a few days, Ah Qi need not come anymore.

Soon after, the two inside heard Zhang Yue reciting aloud:

“Sitting upright in white garments, rising to don straw sandals. After breakfast and washing, strolling slowly before the steps. The summer wind subtly shifts, the daylight hours increase. The courtyard grows still and shaded, birds sing in the new-leafed trees. Alone I walk and alone I rest, the summer scene not yet faded. I do not nap at noon; how can I endure this long day?”

When they saw that Zhang Yue was awake, he did not take advantage of the cooling air to return to the hut and read, but instead donned a short shirt and went to the creek to swim.

Miss Miao sighed, “To possess such talent from heaven, yet squander the hours so idly—what a pity.”

In the afternoon’s oppressive heat, Scholar Guo only taught in the mornings; after lessons, he went home to rest.

As usual, the Analects lessons were delivered orally by Scholar Guo to Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue had been studying the Analects for nearly half a month. In truth, he needed only five days to memorize the entire text.

When Zhang Yue finished reciting the Analects in five days, both Scholar Guo and Guo Lin were convinced of his talent, at least in terms of memorization. The subsequent lessons focused on commentary.

The Song scholars produced many commentaries on the Analects, the most famous being Zhao Pu’s “Half of the Analects is enough to rule the world.” It was said that when he served as Prime Minister, whenever he encountered a difficult problem in governance, he would consult the Analects and find a solution. However, this saying originated in Song-era anecdotal records and lacks historical evidence. Song histories recount that Zhao Pu was unlearned in his youth, and Emperor Zhao Kuangyin often urged him to study more. In his later years, Zhao Pu never put down his books and always read upon returning home. After his death, his family found only the twenty chapters of the Analects in his book chest.

The phrase “Half of the Analects rules the world,” along with Song Taizu’s “Prime Ministers must be scholars,” have become celebrated among Confucians. Yet, regardless of the book, the most important thing is the person, not the text.

When Zhang Yue declared he had memorized the Analects, Scholar Guo often lay awake at night, rejoicing in such a “fine talent, a precious gem,” yet also fearing he might squander it.

One day, after Zhang Yue had thoroughly studied the Analects, Scholar Guo came to him with a stern expression, then spoke at length:

“The Master said: ‘Gentle and soft, thick and warm—that is the teaching of poetry; clear and far-reaching—that is the teaching of history; broad and joyful—that is the teaching of music; respectful and frugal, grave and reverent—that is the teaching of rites; pure and tranquil, subtle and precise—that is the teaching of changes; skillful in words and affairs—that is the teaching of the Spring and Autumn Annals.’”

Zhang Yue understood that Scholar Guo was listing the virtues of studying the five classics as described by Confucius. Yet, he sensed that this was mere preface; the real question was to follow.

Scholar Guo then asked seriously, “What are your future plans regarding the imperial examinations?”

Zhang Yue replied, “I do not understand, please enlighten me, sir.”

Scholar Guo stroked his beard and said, “Our dynasty’s examinations are divided into regular and special categories. Special examinations are convened by imperial edict to recruit talent. They are rare and not held regularly, so I have never heard of a scholar succeeding through them.”

“But wasn’t Lord Wu of our district appointed through a special examination?” Zhang Yue interjected. In his previous life, he had frequented forums and enjoyed debating. The Lord Wu he mentioned was none other than Wu Yu, a current high official; Zhang Yue had even met his nephew recently in Peng County.

Scholar Guo nodded, “Indeed, I overlooked that. In two hundred years, only Lord Wu has passed in the top three of the special examinations! It is far harder than winning first place in the regular exams. There have been dozens of top scholars, but only one has placed in the top three of the special exam. Would you not agree it is more difficult?”

The regular exam, as Scholar Guo explained, is the common path. It is held at fixed intervals, though the frequency varies—sometimes every two years, sometimes four, occasionally five years with no exam. Recently, it has settled into a two-year cycle.

Scholar Guo continued, “The regular exams are divided into the jinshi and miscellaneous categories. The miscellaneous exam is akin to the Mingjing exam of the Tang era, but the jinshi exam has always been ill-defined.”

“The jinshi exam tests poetry, prose, argumentation, and classical interpretation. The miscellaneous exam omits poetry and prose, focusing only on classical interpretation. Let me explain the miscellaneous exam.”

Classical interpretation is tested by giving a passage such as “When three walk together, one can be my teacher,” covering the upper line and asking the candidate to write the next, or vice versa. In the regular exam, it is more challenging, often covering several characters. Interpretation means explaining the meaning of such passages. Essentially, the regular exam tests memorization.

The Song dynasty’s miscellaneous exams cover the Nine Classics, Five Classics, Kaiyuan Rites, Three Histories, Three Rites, Three Commentaries, the Scholar’s Exam, the Mingfa Exam, and so on.

Zhang Yue deduced from Scholar Guo’s words that he was being encouraged to pursue the miscellaneous exams, where diligence is rewarded and there is a clear standard. The jinshi exam, based on talent and subjective judgment, was unlikely for a humble family without connections.

Scholar Guo asked, “What about the Three Rites?”

The Three Rites exam covers the Book of Rites, the Zhou Rites, and the Etiquette Regulations.

Zhang Yue shook his head, “Too little.”

Scholar Guo was pleased; he had been testing Zhang Yue’s ambition. Zhang Yue had not chosen the Scholar’s Exam for ease, nor shunned the classics for the histories, rites, or law, showing his promise.

Scholar Guo asked again, “What about the Three Commentaries?”

The Three Commentaries are the Zuo Commentary, the Gongyang Commentary, and the Guliang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Three Rites amount to about two hundred thousand characters, but the Zuo Commentary alone is that length.

“Still too little!” Zhang Yue replied without hesitation.

Scholar Guo was even more delighted, “What about the Five Classics?”

Previously, he had mentioned the Mao Poetry, the Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Zuo Commentary, and Changes as the Five Classics. Kong Yingda composed the Correct Meaning of the Five Classics, which became the official standard for the examinations; any interpretation not based on it was deemed heretical. Despite its flaws, the Correct Meaning unified the curriculum, eliminating confusion.

Zhang Yue understood that the jinshi exam was unreliable, dependent on the examiners’ whims. As a child of humble origins, his chances were slim. The regular exams, however, rewarded effort, with clear right and wrong. Scholar Guo hoped Zhang Yue would choose the Five Classics.

Zhang Yue thought further and shook his head, “Too little.”

Scholar Guo was startled, “Which exam do you wish to take?”

Zhang Yue countered, “Which exam does senior brother choose?”

Scholar Guo paused, then said, “Your senior brother... I taught him the Analects from the age of five, hoping that one day he would succeed in the Nine Classics Exam.”

He then advised Zhang Yue, “But the Nine Classics Exam is the hardest of all; you need not force yourself.”

Indeed, the Nine Classics Exam is the most demanding. Candidates must study the Book of Changes, Book of Documents, Mao Poetry, Book of Rites, Zhou Rites, Etiquette Regulations, Zuo Commentary, Gongyang Commentary, and Guliang Commentary—a total of nine classics.

The exam covers the widest range: 120 classical interpretation questions, 60 meaning explanations.

In the Tang dynasty, the Five Classics Exam was second only to the jinshi in difficulty, and its scope included these nine texts. The Tang divided them into major, medium, and minor classics, with exams requiring two major, three chosen from medium and minor to make five. The Song, however, required all nine.

Scholar Guo looked deeply at Zhang Yue, his meaning clear—was Zhang Yue truly determined to attempt the Nine Classics?

“I hear that success in the Nine Classics Exam ranks above the other miscellaneous exams?” Zhang Yue asked.

Scholar Guo thought to himself that this student was too focused on status, not on learning for its own sake; he would have to correct him gradually.

Scholar Guo sighed, “Yes, passing the Nine Classics Exam is indeed superior. In the jinshi appointments, the top five in the first rank are first-class. Those from sixth place down, as well as those who pass the Nine Classics, are second-class. All others from miscellaneous exams are equivalent to fifth-class jinshi and must await selection.”

Zhang Yue now understood: the jinshi exam had five ranks. The top five were first-class, the Nine Classics and those below sixth place were second-class, then came the lower ranks. Selection meant no immediate appointment; candidates waited three years and underwent another exam before being considered for office. Miscellaneous exam graduates received the same treatment as the lowest jinshi.

Thus, the difficulty of the Nine Classics Exam was clear, and Zhang Yue was surprised that the unremarkable Guo Lin had such resolve.

“Do you intend to study for the Nine Classics?” Scholar Guo asked.

ps1: Thanks to reader Huan Qiu for becoming the third leader of this book!
ps2: Which exam should Yue Yue choose?