科举专经,是指科举考试中所呈现的科举群体对特定经书的依赖现象。该现象发端于唐,积淀于两宋,至元明而蔚为大观。学界对此虽已有不少关注,但就科举专经的历史演变,其所内含的科举意义等方面尚未见专论。相较于地区文化、经济等背景因素,科举人才的成功与专经取向的关联更为直接。科举地理所呈现的人才分布与地区差异,是长期以来科举专经制度与地方科举互动的结果。
The reading of Classics in the Imperial Examination era is disproportionate— attendants of the exam tended to put more emphasis on certain Classic. A certain Classics became especially popular in a set region at a time, a phenomenon budding in Tang Dynasty, gaining ground in Song Dynasty, and by Ming Dynasty in full swing as several regions gained fame for specializing in certain Classics. Previous analysis of this phenomenon lack thoroughness in terms of its evolvement as well as its influence on the system of Imperial Examination. Based on an innovative reading of the existing documents, this study will comb through its historical evolvement and reexamine the herding of successful candidates in various regions. It turns out that while success in the Imperial Examinations has much to do with regional culture and economy, a more direct factor was the literary men’s preference in choosing the Classics to study and peruse. It can be concluded that the geographical distribution of successful candidates in the examination was brought by an interaction between the disproportionate reading of Classics and the regional system of the Examination.