The Chinese Examen

The Chinese Imperial Examen was an official testing system used from the Sui Dynasty (6th century) through the Qing Dynasty (early 20th century) to select government officials based on merit. Candidates studied Confucian classics and writings, and then took rigorous exams at various levels—regional, provincial, and imperial. Success in these exams could lead to prestigious government positions and social mobility. The system aimed to create a meritocratic bureaucracy, emphasizing knowledge and scholarship over aristocratic privilege, and played a key role in shaping Chinese governance, education, and social structure for centuries.