Etymology

The name of this title traces its origin back to the Book of Documents (also known as the Shû King through the translation of James Legge) which is written in old Chinese language. In the chapter "The establishment of government"(立政), the phrase "All good men of constant virtue (庶常吉士)" which is pronounced as "Shuchangjishi" appeared during a conversation between Zhougong, a moral model of Confucianism, and King Cheng of Zhou, the ruler of China in the early 11th century BC. Zhougong asks his nephew King of China to appoint officials with great care and prudence. He elaborated on the subject of the selection of officials and its significance in relation to the well-being of the government. All good men of constant virtue, according to Zhougong, are the ones that are to be trusted and assigned with important tasks.

Official use

In Ming China and Qing China, The title Shujishi is granted solely to the Jinshi rank. The Jinshi are a group of intellectuals that has passed the imperial exams.

The Shujishi was installed in the year of 1385 by the decree of Emperor Taizu of Ming, it was the 18th year of his rule when Shujishi first appeared in the records of history. Novices of the Jinshi rank undergo a process of selection and some of them are bestowed the title Shujishi. Once became Shujishi, they work as apprentice in the Hanlin Academy with the purpose of perfecting their skills of administration. During the reign of emperor Yinzong of Ming, the definition of Shujishi was narrowed down. Jinshi from the second place(二甲) or the third place(三甲) who are outstanding in terms of virtue are selected to be Shujishi in the Hanlin Academy. These elite Jinshi are called "Academy's selection"(館選). The Jinshi who obtained top place in the imperial exams received more privileged titles such as Xiuzhuan(修撰) and Bianxiu(編修). However, Xiuzhuan and Bianxiu are distinct titles that are different from Shujishi.

A stricter standard was applied during the reign of emperor Shizong of Qing. All Shujishi hold the title for a term of three years before been officially examined. During the three year long period, they study with experienced scholars in the Hanlin Academy. These Shujishi who had not received an official examination were called Sanguan(散館). Once Sanguan's knowledge were examined, those who were able to achieve success in their study will be formally accepted as a scholar of the Hanlin academy while those who were inferior to their peer Shujishi will be allotted to other departments of government.

沿革

明太祖洪武十八年（1385年）時開始此制，選進士於六部諸司及翰林院之下觀政。翰林院、承敕監等近傍衙門之下者稱庶吉士，六部之下者稱觀政進士，行人司下設行人。之後觀政集中至翰林院就學於文淵閣。庶吉士考選之後「有辦事者，有讀書者，有修書者」。三年學成，績優者留翰林院為編修、檢討，次者出為給事、御史，稱之為「散館」。明英宗以後慣例，科舉進士一甲狀元、探花、榜眼，授予翰林修撰、編修。另外從二甲、三甲中，選擇年輕而才華出眾者入翰林院任庶吉士，稱為「選館」。庶吉士分翰林、六科兩等。

有學者認為明朝庶吉士應無薪俸。由於庶吉士並未授職，自然沒有品第，也應該是沒有俸祿的，即使政府另有給養，也只應視為生活補貼。明代的翰林為朝廷儲備高才之地。明英宗後有慣例：「非進士不入翰林，非翰林不入內閣。」故此庶吉士號稱「儲相」，成為庶吉士的都有機會平步青雲。清朝時漢人大臣中，亦多出於庶吉士。

清雍正以後，選館更為嚴格，由皇帝主持之朝考決定。庶吉士一般為期三年，期間由翰林院內經驗豐富者為教習，授以各種知識。三年後，在下次會試前進行考核，稱「散館」。成績優異者留於翰林，授編修或檢討，正式成為翰林，稱「留館」。其他則被派往六部任「主事行走」、「御史行走」，或者外派各地方任官，通常是知縣，此類庶吉士亦有「半個翰林」之稱。

注釋

參考書目

• 阪倉篤秀《關于成化元年的散館請求———明朝庶吉士制度檢討》

• 王淳慶《清華之選———明代庶吉士考選與教習館課變遷考》