The eight-legged essay was the dominant portion of the imperial examinations in the Qing Dynasty (Qing Chao 清朝 CE 1644–1911). However, the study on the evaluative standards for the eight-legged essay is often neglected and insufficiently discussed. Based on an investigation of A Complete Collection of Vermillion Examination Essays in the Qing Dynasty, the author of this paper proposes that the four aspects of “purity, truthfulness, refinement and appropriateness” constitute the overall requirements of the examination essay and the four elements of “principle, rules, diction and qi” form the operating standards of the examiners in grading the ranks and quality of the eight-legged essay.

清代科举考试以八股文为考试的主要文体, 以 “清真雅正” 为衡量八股文章优劣的标准, 此标准在《清代硃卷集成》保留的硃卷文章及批语中可见一斑。 “理、 法、 辞” 是八股文写作的几个必备要素, “气” 依靠文章而呈显, 硃卷批语基本都是围绕 “理、 法、 辞、 气” 而作。 “理、 法、 辞、 气” 这四方面是考官阅卷批语的具体操作层面, “清真雅正” 是对 “理、 法、 辞、 气” 的总体要求, 考官从 “理、 法、 辞、 气” 四个方面来衡量科考文章优劣及登第高下。 这一标准与当时提倡的文风有关, 它从明代的 “醇正典雅” 演进而来, 因八股文的功令要求而定。 此标准在清初就被明确规定下来, 并呈逐渐强化之趋势。