Social And Cultural Function Of Hanlin Scholars In Ming Dynasty

In Early Ming Dynasty, Hanlin Scholars, who play an outstanding role in the politics, can take part in discussing important affairs directly. However, with the building and developing of Nei-ko, some of the Hanlin Scholar's duties were substituted. So the position of Hanlin Scholar came down a bit. But all through the Ming Dynasty, the social and cultural function of Hanlin Scholars did not cut down. They participated in imperial examinations all the time. In the process of charging the imperial examination, Hanlin Scholars showed their insight of choosing talents. They made great contributions to selecting talent people for the government. As the most important participant of the examinations, Hanlin Scholars made charge of the criterion. After the choosing job, Hanlin Scholars would educate the candidates who succeeded in the in the highest imperial examinations. So they played an important role in selecting and educating talents. And During the contact between Hanlin scholars and emperor, on one hand, the emperor was getting knowledge and taking common discussion with them while having classes. On the other hand, Hanlin scholars made use of it to make their political ideals known to the emperor. Moreover, they exert their influence on the emperor. Meanwhile, most of the Hanlin scholars were erudite. They are the outstanding part of the intellectual in Ming Dynasty, which results that they must produce significant effect to the social and cultural development in Ming Dynasty. They not only concentrated their efforts on the creation, preservation and arrangement of the ancient civilization, but also played an important role of its social demonstration to the whole society, with their own setting an example by personal deeds. But we have to admit that there are some positive aspects of Hanlin scholars to the talents storing-and-cultivating system in Ming Dynasty.