Whether it is a country or an enterprise, how to choose managers is a big problem. Generally speaking, it is the fairest and most convenient to choose officials through examinations and qualifications. These two channels are not easy to cheat and are treated equally. However, the Song people said: Law can smooth things out, not choose materials. This means that officials are selected by strict rules and regulations according to qualifications and examinations. It seems fair and just, but it can't select talents.
The selection method composed of examination and qualification has the least resistance to implementation, but it also has the greatest adverse impact on the court. The stricter the exam, the more talented the candidates are, and their qualifications are just an excuse for muddling along. In fact, the requirements of an official position cannot be covered by an exam, and a person's strengths and weaknesses cannot be fully displayed in an exam. The selection of officials entirely by virtue of examination, qualification and other rules and regulations is the embodiment of the court's initiative to give up subjective initiative and take care of bureaucrats' vegetarianism.
Low-level officials in the Song Dynasty rose to the middle level and took up their jobs? Pavilion? As well as candidates for many positions, must be recommended by other bureaucrats. It can be understood that the imperial examination selected talents and recommended officials for the Song Dynasty.
There are three reasons for the recommendation system in Song Dynasty.
First of all, the centralization of power in the Song Dynasty was greatly strengthened, and the central government could realize the appointment and dismissal system of three-level officials. All government officials must be appointed by the court.
Secondly, the number of positions and officials in the Song Dynasty was very different. In the late Northern Song Dynasty, there were more than 6000 government posts/kloc-0, and more than 48000 officials were selected through imperial examinations and Yin En. If there is no effective system for selecting officials, these 48,000 people are not the reserve cadres of the country, but more than 48,000 unstable factors.
Third, the imperial examination system in Song Dynasty was far more perfect than that in Sui and Tang Dynasties. The gentry class has completely withdrawn from the historical stage, and all the people elected by the imperial examination are ordinary people. Without the deep-rooted tree in the bureaucratic group, the recommendation system is easy to realize.
Although the compilation of recommendation was highly praised by people in the Song Dynasty, its disadvantages were also very obvious.
In order to prevent corruption and bribery, the Song Dynasty used? Swear for the same crime? And strict supervision system to cooperate with the recommended operation.
Commending the sponsor of the same crime means that the sponsor and the sponsor maintain a long-term common relationship. If the sponsor violates the law, the sponsor should also bear the responsibility. This kind of punishment is different from sitting in a row without avoiding relatives, but it can be big or small, depending on the situation. When Bao Zheng was in Luzhou, an official who had recommended him had a problem, and Bao Zheng immediately accepted the demotion. For the middle and senior officials in the imperial court, it is also one of the ruling abilities to observe the people's feelings. Recommend a talent, give yourself an extra stepping stone, recommend a scum, and you will have an extra stumbling block. Before recommendation, the recommender decides the fate of the recommended person, and after recommendation, the recommended person affects the recommended person's career. Interlocking, the recommender has to cherish his honor.
Yushitai is responsible for supervision, and has supervision responsibility for every recommendation. Once the recommendation letter is submitted, Yushitai will carefully review the resume of the recommended person. If it is found that the recommended person is really not suitable for the position, the recommended person will bribe the recommender, etc. Yu Shitai will launch impeachment mercilessly.
The operation of recommendation system can not be separated from a good political environment, and the political water is a bit muddy. The recommendation system must be the first to suffer.
During the Zongshen period of the Ming Dynasty, the official discipline was slack, and once the official position was vacant, there was an endless stream of people who entered through the back door. Not to mention recommendation, even the election of officials based on examinations and qualifications cannot guarantee fairness. Sun Piyang, then the official department minister, was helpless in the face of complicated situation, but he couldn't bear to fish in troubled waters, so he drew lots to choose officials. Don't bother to go through the back door, let's do what God wants. After all, no matter how bad the officials elected by lottery are, they are better than those who take bribes.