中國古代的“錄取通知書”

Todays admission letters have become more and more creative with delicate designs. However， do you know how students in ancient times received their admission letters and what the letters were like？

如今的錄取通知書都經過了精心設計，變得越來越富有創意。然而，你知道古代考生們是如何收到“錄取通知書”的嗎？那時候的錄取通知書又長什么樣呢？

Gold and glittering admission letter

金燦燦的錄取通知書

During the Tang Dynasty （618—907）， the admission letter was on paper decorated with gold bits， or scraps， to denote those who stood out in the ancient imperial examinations， or keju. The gold notice was sent home by students attached to a letter， instead of through official channels， so some people think this was not an official admission letter.

The widely-recognized official admission letter was called jinhua tiezi （golden flower letter）， which appeared later. It was similar to todays admission letters from key national universities.

According to historical records from the Song Dynasty （960—1279）， jinhua tiezi was written on top-quality paper sprinkled with powdered gold， which was usually five cun long （about 15 centimeters）. Until the Qing Dynasty （1644—1911）， woodblock printed admission letters were made.

Admission letters in the Ming （1368—1644） and Qing dynasties were called jiebao， which were larger in size and made for students to put on display in their halls.

Overall， fancier materials were used to make admission letters to candidates with higher grades. Besides paper， some used delicate brocade silk or fine processed wood.

唐朝（618年—907年）的錄取通知書寫在飾以金片的紙上，表明此人在科舉考試中脫穎而出。這封金燦燦的通知書和一封信一起由考生寄回家，而非通過官方渠道寄送，所以一些人認為這并不是一封正式的錄取通知書。

后來就有了公認的官方錄取通知書“金花帖子”。它和現在的全國重點大學的錄取通知書很像。

據宋朝史料記載，“金花帖子”寫在撒有金粉的高級紙張上，通常為五寸長（約15厘米）。而清朝（1644年—1911年）則使用的是木版印刷的錄取通知書。

明朝（1368年—1644年）和清朝的錄取通知書被稱為“捷報”，尺寸會更大些，讓考生能在家中廳堂展示。

總體而言，成績好的考生拿到的錄取通知書材質也會更好。除了紙，一些錄取通知書還會使用精美的錦緞或者加工精細的木制品。

What was written on an admission letter？

錄取通知書上寫了些什么？

The ancient admission letter was always written in clerical script （lishu）， an archaic style of Chinese calligraphy. The center of the letter showed the examinees ranking as well as the year and name of the exam.

During the Tang and Song dynasties， the jinhua tiezi would first list the names， titles and personal information of the main officials in charge of the exam and then the name of the examinee.

The jiebao in the Ming and Qing dynasties had simpler content， which just contained the name and ranking of the examinee.

The ancient admission letters also had to be stamped with special seals after being written. In the Qing Dynasty， the list of successful candidates during the dianshi， the top-level exam in keju， would be sealed by the emperor and shown to the public.

古代的錄取通知書皆為隸書，中國古代書法的一種風格。通知書的中間會寫上應試者的名次、考試年份以及考試名稱。

在唐宋時期的“金花帖子”上，會先列出主持考試的主要官員名字、官職以及個人信息，然后才寫上應試者的名字。

明清時期的“捷報”內容更為簡潔，只有應試者的名次和姓名。

古代的錄取通知書寫成之后也需加印上特殊印章。清朝時期，殿試為科舉考試中的最高段。皇帝會親自為殿試中試者名單蓋上印章，并公之于眾。

How was an admission letter delivered？

錄取通知書是如何送達的？

Nowadays， admission letters are delivered by China Post， while in ancient times， delivery of the admission letter involved a very solemn government procedure. A special team would be assembled to deliver the letter， with an official riding on a tall horse， raising up a flag in the front， and a band followed behind playing cheerful music and lighting fire crackers to celebrate.

After receiving the admission letter， the host would give red envelopes to the delivery men as lucky money. The letter would then be posted in the most prominent position in the hall of the candidates home as a proud honor.

如今的錄取通知書都由中國郵政寄送，而在古代，運送錄取通知書這一莊嚴的程序則是由朝廷負責。朝廷會召集一班特殊人馬運送信函：一名官員騎著高頭大馬，在前方高舉旗幟，緊隨其后的樂隊吹奏著歡快的樂曲，點燃鞭炮以示慶賀。

在收到錄取通知書之后，主人家會給送信員發紅包，圖個好彩頭。信函稍后會張貼在中試者家中廳堂最顯眼的地方，以示光宗耀祖。