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| Writings and Significance of Tanhua at Wenxi Banquet of Imperial Examination in the Song Dynasty |
| Zhang Fuqing |
| School of Literature and Journalism, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou521041, China |
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Abstract The Tanhua Banquet was a self-organized entertainment activity where newly graduated jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) of the Tang Dynasty pooled money together. In contrast, the Wenxi Banquet or Qionglin Banquet during the Song Dynasty was an official gathering organized by the imperial court. Tanhua was an important entertainment segment in these banquets and also referred to the youngest and most handsome among the successful candidates. The main duties of the tanhua were to pick famous flowers and compose poems, typically involving two to three individuals, and this role was unrelated to the “Third Place Jinshi” (the first of jinshi is popularly known as zhuangyuan, the second as bangyan, and the third as tanhua). The title “tanhua” is not found in the official histories of the Song Dynasty. It only appears in the official records starting from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. However, it was quite popular in the notes and writings of the Song scholars.In the Song Dynasty, poetry writings about the tanhua at the Wenxi Banquet were prominent. Firstly, they were mainly composed by the zhuangyuan or bangyan of the imperial examinations. Zhuangyuan Zheng Xie and Huang Shang both hosted Tanhua Banquets and wrote tanhua poems with a strong sense of the scene, a sense of being there. Although zhuangyuan Song Xiang, Wang Shipeng, and Yao Mian did not directly write tanhua poems, their works involve the Qionglin Banquet and recall the joyous moments of the tanhua. Bangyan Liu Chang also has a lively scene of poetic memories and playful exploration of flowers. Secondly, writings by general jinshi or those conferred the jinshi title include poems by Wang Yucheng, Han Ju, Xiang Anshi, Zhang Jian, and Gao Xuan. These works recall the tanhua activities in which they or their friends participated at the Qionglin Banquet, highlighting the glory associated with the tanhua. The Jin Dynasty, which coexisted with the Song Dynasty, also produced tanhua poems describing the grand activities of the Wenxi Banquet. Thirdly, folk literati composed lyrics about the tanhua. He Ning and Zhang Xian wrote songs depicting the participation in the Wenxi Banquet, drinking wine, and engaging in tanhua, reflecting feelings of joy and pride. Zhuangyuan Wang Ang composed lyrics illustrating his pride in being selected as a husband by many young women. Anonymous authors and the monk Zhong Shu also created songs using flower colors as metaphors for high achievers, referring to the top three candidates.The writings about the tanhua at the Wenxi Banquet during the Song Dynasty are noteworthy for several reasons:1. Reflection of Imperial Examination Customs: They reveal the customs associated with the imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty and help reconstruct the duties of the tanhua. Records indicate that in the sixth year of Xining (1073), zhuangyuan Yu Zhong petitioned to stop the tanhua activities at the Wenxi Banquet, but by the fifth year of Yuanfeng (1082), these customs were reinstated. The role of the tanhua, being the youngest and most handsome among the candidates, had been ambiguous regarding which officials undertook this position. The existing “Record of the Same Year in the Eighteenth Year of Shaoxing” details the birthplaces and ages of the jinshi. Careful analysis reveals that those who served as jinshi tanhua lang were the last two among the nine officials responsible for compiling the “Record of Inscribed Names”, namely Han Yanzhi and Zhang Zongyuan, both aged 18. Local records from Hainan also note that in the seventh year of Xianchun (1271), the youngest jinshi on Zhang Zhensun’s list, Zheng Zhenfu, served as tanhua lang. The criteria for selecting tanhua officials expanded from the second rank in the Northern Song to include the fourth and fifth ranks in the mid to late Southern Song.2. Historical Evolution of the Term “Tanhua”: The term’s meaning shifted over time. In Northern Song notes and literary collections, “tanhua” often referred to the youngest candidate on the list, not specifically the Third Place Jinshi. It was not until the mid to the late Song Dynasty that “tanhua” evolved to specifically denote the Third Place Jinshi.3. Comprehensive Record of Festive Atmosphere: These writings capture the celebratory ambiance of the tanhua at the Wenxi Banquet from both participant and observer perspectives. They vividly document the grand and solemn tanhua activities, presenting a lively and bustling scene. Compared to everyday tanhua events, the Wenxi Banquet tanhua had a distinctly festive character. Moreover, the Southern Song accounts lack the immediacy and exuberant details found in the Northern Song descriptions.
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Received: 04 March 2024
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2024, Vol. 54 
