Who in China could take the imperial exam?

Theoretically, any male adult in China, regardless of his wealth or social status, could become a high-ranking government official by passing the imperial examination. Examinations were given on four levels, local, provincial, metropolitan and national.

What was imperial China’s civil service exam system?

The civil service exam system in imperial China was a system of testing designed to select the most studious and learned candidates for appointment as bureaucrats in the Chinese government. This system governed who would join the bureaucracy between 650 CE and 1905, making it the world’s longest-lasting meritocracy.

What were Chinese civil service exams based on?

Confucian classics
The civil service examination system was squarely based upon the Confucian classics and upon recognized commentaries on those classics.

How did the civil service examinations and the scholar official class shape Chinese society and culture?

The examination system helped to shape China’s intellectual, cultural, and political life. The increased reliance on the exam system was in part responsible for the Tang dynasty shifting from a military aristocracy to a gentry class of scholar-bureaucrats.

Who could take the civil service exam during China’s Qing dynasty?

Under the Qing dynasty (1644-1911 CE) yet another layer of complication was added to the exam system. An examination for younger boys, which they had to pass in order to be eligible to take the level one regional civil service exam, was introduced.

What is imperial bureaucracy?

Imperial bureaucracy was a Chinese organization in which appointed officials enforced/carried out the policies of the empire. This type of bureaucracy has been a feature of Chinese government since the Qin dynasty (221-207 B.C.E.).

What was the lowest social class during the Han dynasty?

Han China was comprised of a three-tiered social system. Aristocrats and bureaucrats were at the top of this hierarchy followed by skilled laborers like farmers and iron workers. The bottom tier consisted of unskilled laborers such as servants and slaves.

What were the social classes in the Song Dynasty?

1046–256 BC)—categorized all socio-economic groups into four broad and hierarchical occupations (in descending order): the shi (scholars, or gentry), the nong (peasant farmers), the gong (artisans and craftsmen), and the shang (merchants).

What Empire had an imperial bureaucracy?

Imperial bureaucracy was a Chinese organization in which appointed officials enforced/carried out the policies of the empire. This type of bureaucracy has been a feature of Chinese government since the Qin dynasty (221-207 B.C.E.). During the Song Dynasty, the amount of bureaucratic positions in government increased.