what are these characters?

[randall_flagg]

廷试姚夔???等一百五十人擢(??) 刘俨

概然有???

Can anyone tell me what characters I am missing here? Thanks, this has been driving me crazy! I just don't recognize any of these characters.

[Yuchi]

My guesses, even though they don't make sense to me:

廷试姚夔(虁)等一百五十人擢劉儼

概然有魁

[randall_flagg]

yeah, that's what i had, too. mmmmh. anyone else? please?

[skylee]

I guess the first one means 150 people including Yao Kui took part in the court exam, and as a result of the exam Liu Yan was selected/promoted. According to information on the internet, Liu Yan was the number one (狀元) of the court exam in 1422 (Ming Dynasty).

[randall_flagg]

thanks, syklee, but i kind of knew that already. i do have the whole document at my disposal, i was just having a hard time figuring out these particular characters. i guess know that i know i can go about translating it. thanks for your help!!!!!!! what would i do without you guys (and gals)?

randall

[Quest]

慨然？

[randall_flagg]

hi skylee!

when i tried to translate this document, i found a list on the net that showed a whole list of all the successful candidates of the imperial examination. but now i can't find the link? do you still have it?

thanks,

randall

[skylee]

I didn't have such information. But since you asked me, I have found a list of the number one -> http://www.cc5000.com/search/zhuangyuan/zhuangyuan.htm (click on the name of the dynasty and you will get the list)

[randall_flagg]

thanks!

Did I say "all the successful candidates"? Wow, that's a little much! But I thought I had a list with the 1st, 2nd and possbily 3rd. Oh well, not a big deal, really. But again, thanks for your effort!

[skylee]

I don't think 2nd and 3rd places are "successful".

[randall_flagg]

not? i thought everybody who passed was successful... but i'm no expert.