The ultimate academic test

In Imperial China the competitive examinations for government office were open to everyone. Except for people like actors, of course.

Men from all over the country would compete in examinations at local, city and regional level. The very best would finally travel to Beijing to sit the highest level of examinations, supervised by the emperor himself. Students would be locked into cells for a week or so and told “write what you know.” Food was passed in through a small hole. The papers were marked by the most eminent scholars with comments added by the emperor.

Those who passed this ultimate test would be eligible for appointment to the higher levels of the Imperial government.

Scholarship gave the greatest status in China and the Imperial examinations required a vast memorized knowledge of ancient works of literature and history. Free thinking was not encouraged.

This picture, taken in about 1905 in the depths of the Beijing winter, shows the cells in which the scholars were locked for their ultimate examination.

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©Phillip Bruce 2009.