Ming Dynasty Imperial Examination System

Consisting of ten chapters, this dissertation attempts to make a systematic exploration of the imperial examination system in Ming Dynasty. Some new findings are made in such aspects as the officials, test papers, characteristics of the imperial examination system and its international influence.After referring to the relevant information in the National Library and the libraries in Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University and South China Normal University, it is found that, until April 1999, few works except A Study of the Schools and Imperial Examination System in Ming Dynasty by Zhao Zifu (1995, Beijing Yanshan Press) have been published with regard to this subject. Even this book is not available.In terms of research methods, data statistics is applied in this dissertation. From the relevant materials about the enrolled scholars and local chronicles, a lot of data have been collected, which help to show convincingly and strongly the advantages and disadvantages of the involvement of the successful candidates in imperial examinations at different levels, including Juren, Gongshi and Jinshi, in politics.In the first four chapters, a detailed discussion is made of the three levels and the characteristics of the imperial examination system as well as people's attitudes towards it in Ming Dynasty. Chapter One is focused on the imperial examination system adopted by Zhu Yunazhang, first emperor of Ming Dynasty, and his views of talents as the basis of governance. Besides, it explores the remarks by other emperors and high-ranking officials concerning the importance of the system, its purpose and criteria for selection, and other issues such as how to improve the school education and enforce the function of provincial education coordinators. Chapter Two covers two aspects: first, the general situation of the provincial examination, which is characterized by two features, that is, the officials responsible for the examination are dispatched by the emperor in person and the number of enrollment is on the increase; second, the role, status, rank and characteristics of Juren (successful candidates in provincial examination) in the central and local governments. Statistics show that the positions occupied by Juren during the rule by Emperor Hongwu is higher than the period of Emperor Jingtai and thereafter. Since the period of Emperor Jingtai, there appeared a tendency towards preference of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) to Juren. In Chapter Three, there is a discussion of the features of Huishi (imperial examination for the candidates successful in the provincial examination), which is mainly characterized by the selection of candidates who take one of the three different types of test paper for those from the north, south and center of China respectively. Chapter Four is an exploration of "the Spring Listing" and "the Summer Listing" of the successful candidates for Jinshi and the improvement of the relevant...