清朝的科举制度规定,每三年举行一次乡试,逢阴历的子、午、卯、酉为乡试之年。乡试就是省级考试,一般在省城进行。读书人在乡试中考合格即为举人,身分既提高了,也取得了赴京应试的资格。1870年,清同治九年,是庚午年,又要举行乡试了。江苏省的读书人,就是那些所谓监生、荫生、官生、贡生,习惯上称为秀才或生员,从四面八方前往省城金陵(即现在的南京)。 The imperial examination system in the Qing Dynasty stipulated that a provincial examination should be held every three years and that every child of the lunar calendar, the afternoon, the dao and the unitary should be the year of the provincial examination. The provincial exams are provincial examinations, generally conducted in the provincial capital. The scholar who passed the examination in the rural examinations was a loftier. His standing both increased and his qualifications to go to Beijing for examination were also obtained. In 1870, Tongzhi nine years, is Gengwu years, but also to hold a rural examination. Jiangsu Province scholar, is the so-called prison, shade, official, tribute students, habitually known as scholar or health officer, from all directions to the provincial capital Jinling (now Nanjing).