The word "Xiucai" actually originates from the title "Xiushi". According to records, there was the word "Xiushi" long before the Western Han Dynasty. For example, in the "Book of Rites", it is written, "The fate of the hometown is about the showman, the promotion of the Situ, and the selection of the scholar". The "Xiushi" mentioned here refers to those scholars who were selected as talents in the social review at that time. Some of them will be selected and promoted to officials, the so-called "electors".
It can be seen that "Xiushi" is the predecessor of the later "Xiucai". Before the imperial examination system, social evaluation and evaluation of talents were the main ways to select talents. In the early days of the Western Han Dynasty, these "Xiushi" talents were gradually called "Xiucai". For example, some documents mention that some learned scholars in the Western Han Dynasty would be called "Xiucai". This is the period when the term "Xiucai" officially appeared.
Subsequently, the meaning of the term "Xiucai" gradually became clear, mainly referring to scholars who were recognized by the society as outstanding in terms of conduct and talent. This was especially evident during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Therefore, in general, "Xiucai" was established and used as a formal concept, which can be considered to be roughly in the period from the Western Han Dynasty to the Eastern Han Dynasty.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, after Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty Liu Xiu came to power, the word Xiucai was changed and renamed "Maocai" because he wanted to avoid the name of the emperor. The reason why it was renamed "Maocai" is to take its meaning of "luxuriant" and place good expectations on talents. This title was used for a period of time, and by the middle and late Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu had died, the pressure of avoidance was reduced, and the title "Xiucai" gradually recovered from its original expression. The change of "Xiucai" to "Maocai" can be regarded as an important historical change in the evolution of the word in the Han and Han dynasties. This transition reflects the profound influence of ancient avoidance Xi on the use of words.
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the power of the scholar families was unprecedentedly strong, and they basically monopolized the main way to select officials and confer positions. It is almost impossible for ordinary children to pass the imperial examination to enter the official career. At that time, many people who won the reputation of "Xiucai" did not have excellent knowledge and talent, and relied more on their family background and family background. Some scholars have pointed out that the title of "Xiucai" in this period is hardly closely linked to the real talent and final career in the imperial examination system, but is more like a false name. This reflects from one side that the connotation and characteristics of the concept of "Xiucai" were weakened and distorted during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, a relatively systematic imperial examination system was implemented. Xiucai and Jinshi are listed as the two main ways to select officials. However, due to the high selection standards at that time, many people gave up taking the exam, which led to the suspension of the Xiucai subject. This marked the decline of "Xiucai" in the imperial examination system.
The Juren of the Song and Yuan dynasties were very different from the Xiucai of the later Ming and Qing dynasties. Juren is a temporary qualification obtained through the imperial examinations at all levels, not a fixed status. After the reform of the imperial examination system in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Xiucai who obtained the qualification of student became a formal and long-term identity and was recognized by the society, which laid the basic connotation of the word Xiucai in the modern context.
Privileges enjoyed by talents
Local law in the Ming Dynasty stipulated that the family of a student could be exempted from paying taxes for two members in addition to himself. In practice, priority will be given to reducing the taxes paid by the families of the students when collecting grain to ensure their basic livelihood.
Students are exempted from not only their own errands, but also two members of the family from errands, so as to support the whole family. This was an important incentive at the time.
Xiucai who has been promoted to the school can get the food silver issued by the school, that is, the living allowance. This has led to an improvement in their material life. And the primary epiphytes are not entitled to it.
In the event of a dispute between a student and an ordinary person, the government and judges will often adopt a protective and tolerant attitude towards the student, such as only warning and not punishing. This undoubtedly strengthens the legal status of the students.
Some conflicts that occur within the school are often mediated privately by the school to avoid legal damage to the students. It is also a manifestation of privilege.
The scarves on their heads represent their special status and status. The neighbors respect this very much, and will not easily offend the living class. This satisfies Xiucai's spiritual needs.
Officials at all levels will also give generous courtesies when receiving and contacting students. This improves the social status of the students and gives them spiritual satisfaction.
All of the above-mentioned privileges have formed support and preferential treatment for Xiucai in terms of life security, legal status and spiritual needs. This constituted a unique system of scholar policy in ancient times, which maintained the source of legitimacy of absolute monarchy.
The main way to make a living is to show talents
The school field is a field donated by the government and the private sector for school operation. It is expressly stipulated that the school field shall not be rented to others for planting without permission. However, the implementation is insufficient, and renting fields for planting and learning is still a common phenomenon.
Many Xiucai regarded Xuetian as their own field and rented it directly to tenants for planting. This is illegal, but it is still widespread. Xiucai obtained financial resources in this way.
Xiucai rented a large area of school farmland, which not only occupied educational resources, but also affected the normal income of the school. However, due to the low rent in Xuetian, Xiucai still continued to do this to solve the problem of food and clothing.
Theoretically, a government instructor is a decent profession that contributes to prestige gain. However, due to the lower selection standards and poor treatment, it has become a helpless choice.
After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, there was a serious shortage of teachers in Fuzhou County. As a last resort, they can only be selected from the students who fail to make the list, and the quality of teachers is difficult to guarantee.
The financial income from serving as a teacher is very limited. Most teachers need other ways to earn a living, which is not conducive to the professionalization of teaching.
The Ming Dynasty School Hall is mainly divided into the Mongolian Hall and the Jing Hall, the former for children and the latter for exam-taking students. Xiucai can earn financial income by establishing a school.
The income of a private school is related to factors such as the size of the school, its own reputation, and the area where it is located. Generally, it ranges from a dozen taels of silver to a hundred taels.
This kind of education-based income generation method is relatively more stable than other channels such as renting land and selling documents. But it also has to face problems such as student loss and intensified competition.
The elites in the officialdom select their staff members to enter the government for the purpose of obtaining political information and decision-making suggestions. Through this, staff members can participate in politics.
The income of the staff is directly related to the power of the main family. The staff of the powerful can earn very high incomes, but when the main family leaves the political center, the income also plummets. There is uncertainty.
After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the cultural market under the influence of commodity economy arose. Life sequences, sacrifices, epitaphs, etc. have become the content of the needs of ordinary people. This provides an opportunity to make a living from literature.
Many under-selected readers meet the above needs by creating articles, which not only earns money, but also obtains a certain amount of spiritual satisfaction. While promoting the development of the market economy, it has also enriched the cultural life of the people.
Xiucai's main expenses
Various fees for the imperial examination
(1) The cost of purchasing reference books
This is one of the main expenses. It covers relevant imperial examination theories, past examination papers and other reference readings. These books are expensive and are a big expense.
The cost of the four treasures of the study and the paper
Including brushes, ink, cinnabar, rice paper, answer sheets and other stationery costs. These also need to be purchased at their own expense, which increases the financial burden.
The cost of transportation and accommodation
The cost of transportation and short-term boarding to other provinces for the exam is also an essential expense for the exam.
The cost of apprenticeship and thanksgiving
Candidates need to pay the apprenticeship and thank you silver to the tutor before the test and the evaluator who listens to the results after the test, which is also a considerable expense.
(2) Daily household expenses
Daily expenses such as food, clothing, housing and transportation
This is a necessary expense that every family needs to bear, and Xiucai families are no exception. It can be seen from literary works that such expenses of ordinary Xiucai families are relatively tight.
Expenditures for major events and ceremonies
Family events such as weddings, funerals, and weddings also need to spend a certain amount of money. This is especially a test of the economic strength of ordinary talents.
(3) Celebration and social expenses
This is an indispensable political and social activity after the middle election, and the network is expanded through banquets for dignitaries. However, this expenditure is huge, and it is easy to cause the capital chain to break.
During this period, Zhongju people need to give gold, silver and gifts to their mentors and referees to express their gratitude. At the same time, it is also necessary to prepare red envelopes to reciprocate guests from all walks of life, which increases the financial burden.
In daily social activities, it is inevitable that a certain amount of money will be required. This is an unaffordable expense for poor talents with few resources.
The difference in the annual income of Xiucai
(1) The influence of students' academic qualifications
Within the county school, there is a big gap in the annual income between epiphytes and students. The latter can get the food silver issued by the school, and their life is already relatively well-off.
The importance of promotion
If you move up to a higher education level by taking the assessment, your annual income level will also increase. If you fail several exams, not only will you not be able to improve your academic qualifications, but sometimes you will be downgraded, resulting in a decline in income.
(2) The influence of network resources
The annual income of serving as a core staff member of power is much higher than that of copywriters in marginal power circles. This is closely related to the power structure of the time.
As the political interests of the main family fluctuate, so does the income of the staff. If the main family is liquidated, the staff will also lose their financial resources.
(3) The influence of the geographical environment
In large cities that are in the economic and cultural centers, the income of people who earn a living through literature is significantly higher than that of poor rural areas. The imbalance of regional development directly affects the annual income of Xiucai.
Cities located in key traffic hubs have more frequent economic activities and higher incomes, while areas with closed traffic have limited economic benefits and low incomes.
(4) The impact of business and word-of-mouth
A well-managed school can maintain a stable supply of students for a long time, and the income of teachers can also be stable. And a poorly run academy will soon face failure.
In the cultural market, the higher an individual's reputation, the higher the income from literature for a living. If reputation is damaged, it means a decline in reputation and income.
The relationship between the imperial examination and the fate of Xiucai
(1) The economic constraints of the imperial examination
As can be seen from the foregoing, the financial pressure of the imperial examination on Xiucai's individual and family is very huge, far exceeding his economic income. This has left many showmen in heavy debt.
In order to support their children's imperial examinations, many Xiucai families did not hesitate to mortgage their fields and sell their ancestral properties, resulting in the destruction of their families. This kind of economic constraint seriously restricts the development of Xiucai's family.
(2) The spiritual temptation of the imperial examination
The incomparably tempting to change one's fate
The imperial examination is the only way for ordinary talents to turn over. This great spiritual temptation, which often transcends economic rationality, has led them to the quagmire of the imperial examination.
The intergenerational transmission of the dream of the imperial examination from generation to generation
Many Xiucai families have passed on the dream of the imperial examination from generation to generation, hoping to change the fate of the family. This kind of spiritual expectation is crazy, and it once again exacerbates the financial burden of the imperial examination.
(3) The historical constraints of the imperial examination mechanism
The mechanism of imperial examination selection continues to expand its scale in its own operation, requiring more candidates and a higher pass rate, and the input-output ratio is becoming more and more unbalanced.
As a huge system of historical inertia, the imperial examination is highly dependent on it by all aspects of society and is difficult to end on its own. This path dependence exacerbates the constraints of the imperial examination on the fate of Xiucai.
(4) Mind control of the imperial examination
As an institutionalized selection mechanism that transcends the control of individuals and market forces, the imperial examination dominates the fate and future of every talent who takes the examination.
The imperial examination monopolized the career and constrained Xiucai's personal development space in a narrow system. Losing the imperial examination is equivalent to losing everything. This has formed a huge external control over the spirit of Xiucai.
Based on the above analysis, it can be seen that for most people, the annual income has not increased significantly. It is an indisputable fact that material life is still relatively difficult, and the input in the imperial examination exceeds the output.
However, due to changes in time and personal and family conditions, Xiucai's annual income has also been differentiated. This is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored.
The most important thing is that the high-pressure imperial examination mechanism has seriously restricted the economic and spiritual pursuit of Xiucai, making it difficult for most people to spend their entire lives preparing for examinations.
Of course, we should also note that the imperial examination has promoted the development of the commodity economy and opened up employment opportunities for the people, and these positive social effects are also worthy of attention.
Looking to the future, we need to reflect on the profound impact of the imperial examination on the development of education and create greater opportunities for the all-round development of people.
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