Research On Scholar Candidates Who Failed In The Imperial Examination In Song Dynasty

During the Song Dynasty,with the continuous improvement of the imperial examination system and the popularization of education,more and more candidates chose to take part in the imperial examination for official positions.However,under the circumstance of limited candidates,failure was the fate of most candidates.The frustrated scholars in Song Dynasty governed their lives through the transformation of social status and helped the stability of local social order by participating in public affairs.The life choices of those who failed can be divided into two themes: "Official",which mainly refers to achieving official status through non-imperial examinations,and "Study",which refers to studying by living in the countryside.After they failed the examination,they were placed at the grassroots level,serving as officials and scholars in the local society.In this process,those who were failed became officials by “En yin”system,“Te zou ming” system and recommendation,etc.They did not hold high posts at the local level,but they could participate in the governance of the grassroots society and influence the people through their limited power.The failure scholars who became officials by “En yin” system had a good background,but it was difficult to get promoted after becoming officials.The losers who became official by “Te zou ming”system are generally older and hold relatively diverse positions.Recommended to enter the office of the frustrated scholars often have a certain talent and contacts,they are mostly in the local as a teaching assistant a class of officers.However,some scholars played a positive role in stabilizing the social order at the grass-roots level through benign interaction with the people in local areas.The rural laggards lived by teaching and learning,and participated in local construction and governance through wealth and knowledge,so as to gain local prestige.The frustrated scholars from teaching obtained their social status through the combination of education and poverty relief.The retired scholars of the study of seclusion had diverse interests and diverse subjects,which promoted the cultural development of local society.Through extensive interpersonal communication,the frustrated scholars could not only improve their knowledge level,but also become officials by virtue of their contacts,thus changing their life trajectory.The thoughts and feelings of the losers influenced their behavior,and filial piety in Confucianism influenced their life.The purpose of applying for official position in the imperial examination was to fulfill filial piety.When the repeated examination behavior of those who failed in the imperial examination formed a contradiction with the filial piety of supporting relatives,the concept of performing filial piety was more important than the vision of joining the imperial examination and becoming an official.The purpose of the scholars to participate in the trial is different,for fame,wealth and ideal,the loser’s concept of attend examination is relatively diverse.After the failure of the imperial examination,the initial feelings were generally sad and painful.The continuous accumulation of these feelings made some unsuccessful candidates choose to abandon taking part in the examination and enjoy life as rural lay people,thus forming the "hermit mentality".They go to the local,live in the grassroots,for the development of local society has brought a certain opportunity.