Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 140

Chapter 140

Imperial Censor Chen was a newly appointed and it was the time to do great things without fear of sacrifice. He was eager to make a strong impression and had a strict approach. Determined to enforce discipline, he watched the examinees closely. Any student who deliberately yawned, made eye contact, craned their neck to see another’s desk, or glanced too often at the proctors while drinking water…was immediately marked down and their score reduced. This tactic of killing the chicken to warn the monkey made the rest of the students behave like frightened chickens that had been infected with the plague, sitting still, huddled in their chairs and hardly daring to move.

Because the rows of tables and chairs were loosely bound with bamboo and strung together, any movement from a neighbor caused Cui Xie’s chair to tremble slightly. With everyone settling down, he could sit down a little more peacefully and finally focus on the examination questions.

The first question was from the 《Analects·Great indeed was Yao as a Sovereign》. The original text was Confucius praising Yao, including the phrase, ‘The Master said, “Great indeed was Yao as a sovereign! How majestic was he! It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao corresponded to it. How vast was his virtue! The people could find no name for it.’

In the《Classic of the Way and the Virtue》, there is a similar sentiment: “The greatest rulers are those whom the people hardly know exist; the next best are those who are loved and praised.” While classical Confucian scholarship does not acknowledge a connection to the 《Classic of the Way and the Virtue》, the phrase ‘the people could not find a name for it’ in the 《Analects》is explained as ‘Yao ruled the world as Heaven did, so the people had no name for it’,  which is somewhat akin to ‘the greatest rulers are those whom the people hardly know exist’. Additionally, the phrase ‘It is only Heaven that is grand, and only Yao corresponded to it’ implicitly aligns with ‘Therefore, the way is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the king is also great. Within the realm, there are four great ones, and the king resides among them’.

In the 《Classic of the Way and the Virtue》,  the four great ones are mentioned, including the king as one of the great ones. In the 《Analects》 chapter, the praise focuses on Yao’s virtue as a ruler, emphasizing greatness. His virtue is vast like Heaven, indescribable by the people, so they can only praise his majestic achievements and splendid writings.

Thus, the structure of the essay should be centered around the concept of ‘greatness’. The first four sections would positively and negatively discuss the ‘incomparability of Yao’s virtue’, while the last four sections would analyze his achievements and writings separately, with the conclusion revealing the key point,  ultimately proving that his greatness is unparalleled…

Just conclude the essay with ‘incomparable’!

The essay was 300 words in total. The previous part demonstrates the great virtue of Yao, so the ending should be brief, powerful and succinct!

Having established the conclusion and outline, breaking open the topic becomes straightforward. The central idea of the original text is Confucius’s high praise of Yao’s virtue, highlighting its indescribable greatness. The introduction should distill this essence, focusing on the word ‘great’—

“The Sage praises the ancient emperor’s virtue as great, which is difficult to fully express!”

With the opening sentence discussing the difficulty of fully expressing this greatness, the amplification portion of the essay must elaborate on why it is difficult and not clear in the introduction. Confucius praises Yao by stating that ‘the people could not find a name for it’ and then highlighting his ‘great achievements and ‘splendid writings’; yet, these accomplishments and writings are merely the external manifestations of Yao’s inner virtue and cannot fully capture its ‘greatness of virtue’.

So, continuing from the amplification, Cui Xie wrote: ‘Yao’s virtue is as vast as the Heavens; thus, it cannot be named. His achievements and writings, though grand, are insufficient. How can they encompass Yao’s true greatness?’

In truth, praising his virtue fully is indeed challenging, making this discussion uniquely exceptional!

Imperial Censor Chen’s strict supervision kept the examinees in line. With everyone behaving quietly, Cui Xie’s thoughts flowed outward as smooth as silk, his words spilling out of his brush as effortlessly as ink. He structured his essay around the three imperishables to distinguish oneself: through one’s virtue, through one’s service, and through one’s writings. After finishing the last comparison, he concluded by circling back to Yao’s immense virtue—’Heaven thus forgets its exaltation, and the people forget his virtue.”

With this in mind, only the conclusion remained.

He wrote the pre-prepared phrase, ‘Great indeed, incomparable indeed’ and exhaled a satisfied breath and peace of mind. The sound was louder than usual, echoing slightly. Cui Xie felt something was off, so he looked around and saw a figure in a blue robe leaning against the desk, holding a small stamp and attentively examining his paper with a relaxed expression and lowered eyes, as if they had just let out a sigh of relief themselves.

It was the Provincial Education Commissioner.

Had he done anything but write his paper just now, had he done anything else? Perhaps the student next to him had misbehaved, drawing the Commissioner’’s attention.

Cui Xie stole a few more glances at the blue robe and the Commissioner’s red stamp, which Chen Tixue might have noticed. Noticing this, he reached out and pressed heavily on Cui Xie’s desk and sternly admonished, “Focus on your exam and stop looking at this official!”

Chen da-ren waved his sleeve and left, not stamping Cui Xie’s paper. This left the nearby students, who had received marks for the slightest movements of even drinking water, feeling disappointed.

Cui Xie lowered his head, pretending not to notice their disappointment and resentment, and continued working on the ‘It is said in the Book of Poetry, Although Zhou was an old country’ passage.

The Great Learning also contains the phrase ‘Though Zhou is an old country’ but it is used to illustrate one of its three main principles, ‘renewing citizens’. In 《Mencius》, however, the phrase is used by Mencius to advise Duke Wen of Teng to establish schools and adopt the well-field system to enrich the people.

King Wen of Zhou did not let Zhou’s status as an old country bind him to outdated practices; he adopted new laws. If Duke Wen of Teng followed King Wen’s example, establishing schools and reforming tax laws, he could rejuvenate his country, enriching it and its people. Future kings that arised would then learn from Duke Wen of Teng, emulating his internal governance.

Mencius advised Duke Wen in the hope that he would heed his counsel to improve the state of the country and become the ‘teacher of the true sovereign’. However, centuries later in the Ming Dynasty, Confucian scholars read Mencius to assist the Emperor in governing the realm.

Having studied Mencius’ strategies for state governance, scholars must write not just about the prosperity of a small country but also apply Mencius’ ‘self-renewal’ principles to the current world, recommending them to the enlightened Emperor. Our Great Ming, if not a teacher of sovereigns, should aim to be the sovereign of the world!

Cui Xie picked up his brush and wrote in response to the topic: ‘Old practices should not limit people; their achievements already speak for themselves’—this referred to King Wen of Zhou’s use of new policies to make Zhou surpass the Shang dynasty. He lightly addressed the first part of the question and then heavily emphasized the key point of his essay: ‘It is better to be a sovereign than to be the teacher of sovereign!’

The Ming Dynasty, like any great dynasty, established schools, reduced taxes, and implemented new policies…was it to set an example for some future world-dominating state to follow? Of course, it was for this country’s dynasty to unify the world itself!

A state that has never been the sovereign of the world and can only maintain a modest prosperity without the strength to defend itself, is not fit to be a teacher of sovereigns nor worthy of emulation by future generations!

Growing up with the ambition of being a successor to socialism, even though Cui Xie lived as part of the gentry in this life, his keyboard patriotism never waned. Fueled by a surge of passion in his chest, he wrote about King Wen’s refusal to limit himself because of his small state and family, and his use of new policies to rejuvenate his nation, challenging an invisible superior—if others can rule the world through their policies, why could you not make this country ‘do the same’?

Writing fervently and happily, his transcription flowed smoothly. Before the morning was over, he was ready to submit his paper and leave…urgently needing to visit the restroom.

Luckily, he was not the fastest writer, and a few others were already waiting at the Dragon Gate. He joined them to open the gate quickly. He hurriedly handed his paper to Chen Tixue da-ren, who meticulously reviewed it instead of immediately releasing him. Chen asked, “Have you done these questions before?”

Cui Xie hesitated, replying, “This student has done the first question before, but this is a new piece. This student would not dare to submit an old one.”

In fact, he had done the first question before, but the mindset when practicing and when in the examination hall was different. With the appropriate pressure in the exam, it is easier to produce a good essay. Previously, his teachers always advised that the first essay in the examination should not be reused from old work because the regular practice essays lack the impact of those written under examination conditions. For the second essay, when the examiners are not as meticulous, it is acceptable to use a reliable old essay.

Chen Tixue examined his draft, noting its clarity and minimal revisions. “Most people have many corrections on their drafts. How do you keep yours so neat?”

…It was just a habit from high school, where he preferred writing directly without drafting. Of course, he could not say that, so he modestly replied, “This student usually has the entire essay planned out in my mind before writing, which keeps the draft neat.”

Chen Tixue seemed unconvinced but asked him to recite the opening sentence. Cui Xie answered, ‘To praise the greatness of ancient emperors, to extol heaven’s virtue’. Chen Tixue evaluated his response, asked him to recite a few sentences, nodded, and commented, “This piece is fairly coherent but lacks the vigor of your examination essay. The《 It is said in the Book of Poetry, Although Zhou was an old country》piece is more forceful, but less balanced and not moderate enough.”

As he spoke, Chen Tixue lifted his brush to grade the paper. Just as he was about to mark it, but seeing Cui Xie still standing, he waved him off, “Go on, have the runners open the gate. Return in three days.”

Cui Xie bowed and quickly walked out in small steps, glancing back furtively to see Chen’s hand moving, and wrist turning, likely marking a circle on his paper.

A circle was good, it meant he passed. With this academy examination of the entry-level examinations done, he would not face another examination until the provincial examinations next year.

Returning to the Imperial College, he diligently studied for three days. On the day the results were announced, he headed back to the examination hall for a formal address.

Once officially recognized, life as a scholar was not as leisurely as before in the Imperial College. During years with biannual exams, they had to attend lectures by the Provincial Educational Commissioner. The instructors from various counties in Shuntian Prefecture would stand in the hall, leading their respective students while Imperial College shengyuan¹ and guest scholars from other provinces huddled in the corners, not needing to be punished, observing as each county was called one by one.

Educational Commissioner Chen was determined to rectify the academic atmosphere, unafraid of offending anyone. He was stingy with high scores but generous with corporal punishment. Several runners  stood in the courtyard with wooden boards, and upon hearing his prolonged ‘fourth grade—’ they dragged the student over to be punished on the spot.

The examinees who performed poorly trembled with fear, clasping their hands together at the back of the crowd, praying, “Just let me get a sixth grade…”

Scoring a sixth grade only meant being stripped of their scholar’s robes, and they could retake the exams once this current Educational Commissioner’s term ended. However, scoring a fifth grade meant being sent back to the prefectural school to serve at the county or community schools, enduring endless hardships. Falling to the fourth grade…

The Educational Commissioner’s term lasted nine years, with biannual assessments, meaning at least six beatings over three years.

After dealing with the worst-performing and average examinees from each county, it was finally time for the top scorers.

The few who scored in the first or second grades went up with even more pride than usual: second-grade students received personal, warm encouragement from Educational Commissioner Chen personally, urging them to prepare well for the provincial examinations. As for the first-grade students, Chen himself brought premium white rice to distribute government-issued rations publicly to the linsheng², saying, “This official’s policy is to reward excellence and punish mediocrity. Since you have excelled, from today on, you will eat government-issued rice!”

Each bag of rice was filled to the brim, half as tall as a person, equivalent to a month’s ration worth of rice, adorned with a large red flower ribbon, demonstrating Educational Commissioner Chen’s firm resolve in promoting education.

As the students carried away the bags of rice with the help of the yamen runners, the number of examinees in the courtyard dwindled until it was the turn of the Imperial College students and the children of officials residing in Beijing for their education.

Educational Commissioner Chen flipped through the exam papers, calling students up one by one until there were almost no students left. Then he shouted, “Imperial College student, Cui Xie from Qian’an County, step forward!”

Cui Xie then bowed and walked to the front of the hall, kneeling on the floor to listen to Educational Commissioner Chen’s guidance.

Chen da-ren silently observed him for a while, then suddenly said, “Previously, when I was in the Censorate, I heard Liu da-ren and my predecessor, Educational Commissioner Dai da-ren, praising your excellent essays. It was not until I took up this post that I had the chance to see your work. Your essay…”

Cui Xie, feeling slightly nervous, straightened up a bit more, kneeling higher to listen carefully.

Educational Commissioner Chen continued, “I reread your second essay at home. Its diction is as powerful as the waters of a river, rushing and surging…although it lacks moderation, it is precisely because of this that it showcases a certain vigor and character. There is no need to revise it.”

Indeed, Education Officer Chen seemed to prefer spirited and bold writings!

It appears that in the hearts of every young and aspiring scholar, there is a dream of sweeping away corruption and strengthening the nation and ensuring the people’s wellbeing!

Feeling more at ease, Cui Xie respectfully thanked him. Educational Commissioner Chen then smiled faintly and said, “Although you are a Imperial College student and do not receive government-issued rice, the rice I give is from my own supply. Any student who scores in the first grade may take a bag. You may collect your rice and leave. I hope not to see you again next year.”

His words, though stern, were a well-intentioned wish for Cui Xie to pass the provincial exam next year and the palace exam the following year. How could Cui Xie not understand this?

He smiled, bowed, and said, “Many thanks da-ren. This student will do my best not to disappoint da-ren.” He then turned and left neatly, heading to the courtyard to pick up a bag of rice, slinging it over his shoulder, and walked out of the main gate along the central path, under the astonished gaze of the educational officials.

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Footnotes:

1. Shengyuan: commonly called xiucai (秀才, lit. “outstanding talent”), a scholar who had passed the academy examination of the entry-level examinations. Xiucai enjoyed officially sanctioned social privileges such as exemption from statute labour, access into local government facilities and limited immunity against corporal punishments. They were further divided into three classes according to their performance in the examination. ↩︎
2. Linsheng (廩生, lit. “granary student”), the first class of shengyuan, who were the best performers in the academy examination, and got to receive government-issued rations and pay for their achievements. The top performers within this class would get accepted into the Imperial Academy as gongsheng (貢生, lit. “tribute/selected student”), and will then sit the provincial examination or even be eligible for the metropolitan examination directly.
   Anshou (案首, lit. “first desk”), the highest ranking linsheng, and thus the top shengyuan who ranked first in the academy examination. ↩︎

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TN: Have a good rest of your week everyone and enjoy the chapter! It is a bit of a more scholarly one, so bear with it for now! This week was super tiring but im glad to have a restful weekend 🙂

Update 12/23/24: I just updated it so that all my advance chapters for TMD are up on patreon (and will be continually updated)! Sorry for being so lazy with it and apologies for taking so long to do so. I had to organize a lot of my random documents after a long hiatus last year.

Announcement: We have set up a kofi and patreon account! If you would like to support us or get early access to advance chapters for Blood-Sucking Empress OR TMD, those options are available for you (in support us page)! I have just added a patreon tier for Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examinations in which patreons can have access to a google document with ALL of my advanced translated chapters for the novel. Since I am a grad student, there should usually be at least 10 advance chapters in the document at a time, but depending on my schedules, there may be fewer or more. I’m currently extremely busy, but I have translated out some new chapters for you all! But, I will still post each week with the same schedule. Thanks!

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