Imperial Chinese Civil Service Exams Create a dial

Imperial Chinese Civil Service Exams

Create a dialectic Meritocracy

作者：刘经纬

来源：《校园英语·上旬》2018年第12期

【Abstract】This journal mainly points out that the imperial Chinese civil service exams actually

create a dialectic meritocracy. While many people focus on the fairness of this exam in selection of

talented person； this article also considers the role of economic and social status as privilege which

would be benefit commoners in the exam. In general， this journal points out that Chinese civil

service exam create a meritocracy in the selection of talents but it is also dialectic when taking

economy and social status into account.

【Key Words】History； China； civil service exam； meritocracy； economy； society

【作者简介】刘经纬（1994.9-），女，山东济南人，丹佛大学，大学本科，研究方向：东亚研究，主攻人文社科类研究。

Imperial civil service exam is one of the most important social systems in the history of China.

Even until today， the College Entrance Examination System in China still under its influence. Given

the evidence that Elman， Hansen and Wu Jingzi have shown， the cultural and economic privilege

of resources are very important for participating in the exam system； yet， on the other hand， there

was a dialectic meritocracy which promoted talented people in the exam regardless of economic and

cultural factors. In other words， although economy and culture are the key factors for meaningfully

participating in the exams， the commoners who could participate in the exams were promoted

through a meritocratic process.

The economic factor is necessary for meaningfully participating the exam. One of the most

important reasons is about educational training and resources. As Elman pointed out， “The

educational requirement to mast non-vernacular classical texts and ‘Way learning’ teachings created a

linguistic barrier between those licensed to compete in examination compounds and those who were

excluded because they were classically illiterate”. Indeed， the economic and cultural factors directly

decided whether the person has ability to access to regular professional education training which could

increase exam success. Just like what Elman introduces， the civil examination requires candidates

“speak Mandarin…and to read and write classical Chinese”.Therefore， wealthy family have their

advantage like “lineage schools and merchant-financed academics” to financially support male

students in family. It does not mean the dominant lineages and riche merchant families would be

guaranteed success in competing with other social classifications in the civil examination；

however， their ability would be strengthened through school training. Moreover， merchant families

could translate “social advantages” into “academic advantages” through “cultural resources”. On the

one hand， merchant families utilize their wealth to support linguistic and cultural training to improve