A Comparative Study On The System Between The Ancient Imperial Examination And The Modern Civil Service Exam

Imperial examination system is a core examination system to select talents, which started in the Sui Dynasty, established in the Tang Dynasty, developed in the Song, maturitied and declined in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, getting through six dynasties, stretching over one thousand three hundred years. It plays an invaluable role for selecting officials in Chinese feudal the social system and even today’s civil service system. Imperial examination system keeps "all the papers in the fate " as the purpose, and it is breaking the previous patriarch and kinship concepts,conveying an "excellent learning the official," which is fair and equitable. All walks can pass the exam to enter the ruling class, even including the bottom of the society. It is creating a system of equal talent selection in the history of China and the world which singles out a lot of good talents for the ancient ruling class. Many Western scholars believe that the creation of the imperial examination system in China’s political system is one of the greatest contributions to Western and the world. In a certain sense, the imperial examination system is known as "the fifth great invention" in China.Think through the history of the Millennium Development in the imperial examination system,learn from the successful experience profoundly, absorb the lessons of failure deeply,especially by comparison with a full range of civil service system in China today, we can find it’s truly reflects the historical value of the imperial examination system. See from the examination of the form and role, in a certain sense, the imperial examination just likes a modern civil service examination, civil service examinations just likes the ancient imperial examination. The Chinese imperial examination system has left a wealth of experience and a profound lesson for modern civil service examination system. Evaluate the ancient with knowledge today to study the history of the imperial examination system, which can provide reference for today’s civil service examination system. In order to compare the imperial examination system and the civil service examination system, this subject uses two research methods:literature and comparative. The main body of this article is from five parts to compare:the first part, mainly puts forward this proposition, shows meaning and methods, and defines some the core concepts. The second part,compares the two systems’backgrounds, and combs the historical context.The third part, compares the inner form from procedures, admission, examination content, examination level, depth profiling the similarities and differences. The fourth part, states examinees’psychology who attending these two examination which adding the color of human nature to system can be regarded as a major innovation of this article. The fifth part, the main analyzed through the comparison of the previous sections, the revelation of the imperial examination system for the civil service examination system, and focuses on the imperial examination system reference to the future development of the civil service examination system.This study shows that:the imperial examination and the civil service examination have deeply historical roots of the civil service examination system in China today. Whether in the purpose of the examination, or form, the civil service examination system developed and established from drawing lessons from the advantages and overcoming the imperial examination system gradually. In deep study of these issues, we can explore the inherent criterion of development of the civil service examination system, which is better for future. Imperial examination, as a traditional election official form, which has already quitted the state of history, but as a great exploration and practice, its rational kernel can be learned from today’s civil service examination system. Analyzing and comparing the imperial examination system and the civil service examination system that we can get inspiration to enter a competitive examination system of government as the selection of personnel. It must be fair and impartial as the core to implement in the design, organization and implementation of the entire examination process.On the basis of justice and fair, continuously according to the selection and employment needs, scientific and rational set exam content that select the talent more scientific, and serve the community better.