An Study Of Vietnam's Imperial Examination System Regarding Nguyen Dynasty

Originated in China, the imperial examination system is generally spread to Korea, Vietnam, Japan and other East Asian countries and regions, forming an "East Asian Imperial Examination Cultural Circle", among which Vietnam is an important part. As early as Sui and Tang dynasties in China, the imperial examination system had been implemented in Annan, and after the founding of the ruling government in Vietnam, it continued to be practiced to select officials.During Nguyen Dynasty (1802 ~ 1945), Vietnam was in an unprecedented stage with changeable situation, and the examination system came to decline.Much information on the imperial examination system in Nguyen Dynasty was recorded in Han Nom documents and inscriptions. Through the information, we can see that the imperial examination system had a complete set of management and operation mechanism during Nguyen Dynasty. Even in the colonial period by French, the imperial examination system was held in North Qi and Middle Qi step by step. Drawn on the experience of Li Dynasty and the Chinese imperial examination system, and combined with current national conditions at that time, the imperial examination system demonstrated obvious Vietnamese characteristics in many aspects, such as elephants guarding the examination room, successful candidates did not take champion, and so on. Forced by the pressure of the times, the imperial examination system began to change, the examination was put much more emphasis on French and Vietnamese with Latin features, and papers with forty scores as full marks was judged by right points herein.The spread of Western civilization in Vietnam and Vietnam's own cultural development of the national bourgeoisie made the existing foundation of imperial examination system which was based on Confucian thoughts collapse, and the examination system was finally abolished in 1919. The end of the imperial examination system of Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam was one important symbol of Vietnam's ancient social system transformation, and the transformation from Confucian education to colonial culture education.