本論文據明代鄉、會試錄等文獻，整理出鄉、會試《尚書》義共一五七四道試題，使用歷史文獻分析法、統計法進行試題的分析研究。考察《尚書》義的出題，不因今、古文之別而有所輕重，主要繫之內容義理。虞、夏、商、周四類中，以〈虞書〉最獲青睞。五十八篇中，以〈洪範〉、〈大禹謨〉、〈益稷〉、〈禹貢〉、〈舜典〉、〈立政〉、〈說命下〉等篇最常出題，內容或偏向頌美吉祥，或讚揚聖君賢臣的德行與功績，多與設官、刑獄、德政、治術等政事相關。而未出、罕出的篇章，多涉夏桀、商紂荒淫暴政的指斥，或涉喪亂、死亡之形容，或較乏冠冕的義理可闡發。

This article analyzes a total of 1574 essay questions concerning the meaning of the Book of Documents that were listed in the Ming Dynasty records of provincial and capital exams, using historical document and statistical approaches. Disregarding distinctions of new and old text, the investigation of the questions mainly focuses on their meaning. Out of the chapters classified as Yu, Xia, Shang, Zhou, the Yu was favored by the examinees. Among the 58 chapters, the most commonly used for imperial examinations were the “Great Plan,” the “Counsels of Great Yu,” the “Yi and Ji,” the “Tribute of Yu,” the “Canon of Shun,” the “Establishment of Government,“ and the “Charge to Yue II,” the contents of which either were laudable, auspicious and positive, or else extolled virtuous and capable courtiers involved in selecting officials, judicial justice, and the administration of a country. Chapters that were rarely used include those that involve reprimands of the Xia king Jie’s and Shang king Zhou’s licentious and violent behavior in governance, accounts of death and disorder, or topics unsuited to explication by Confucian scholars.