Analyze+the+Chinese+civil+service+exam+system+and+the+rise+of+meritocracy

Chinese Civil Service Exams and the Rise of Meritocracy Carter Phillips, Kelly Christerson, Chris Borrerro, Melinda Lam

Thesis: The chinese civil service exam system and meritocracy were both systems in which they help people gain an education. However, the exam system was based on wealth while meritocracy was based on talent.

The [|civil service system] originated during the [|Han dynasty]. The Han believed that government officials should be highly educated, which is why they developed the civil service examinations. These tests lasted for many days and were very difficult. The exams were designed so that the wealthy people had a greater advantage at passing and earning a degree. So generally, only wealthy people could afford to prepare for these tests.

The [|civil service exam system] also contributed to the stability of the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties. This contributed to the stability of these dynasties because it made for a highly educated group of government workers. These civil service examinations were heavily influenced by Confucian ideals such as ren, li, and xiao which focused on the fact that respect, courtesy, and filial piety could sustain a successful government and social system. This also provided a way for peasants and others with low social status to move up in the social hierarchy system. This system based on the civil service examinations was known as a meritocracy.

A [|meritocracy] is defined as a system in which people are rewarded and advanced based on ability and talent rather than social status or wealth(or heredity). This bureaucracy based on merit was especially prominent for thirteen centuries in China, during which government officials were chosen from the top ranks of the Confucian educational system based on imperial civil service examinations. This bureaucracy based upon merit lasted from the beginning of the Sui Dynasty until just after the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in the twentieth century.

External Links: Nationalism in China, Colonialism & Eco. Development in Asia Good job! Excelent information that supports your thesis and answers the prompt.- Katie B. Nice work, good thesis, lots of links, and great picture. By Richard B. Noice! It all seemed good to me, and i looked through the section of the book about the Civil Service Exams, and it seems as though you touched on everything in there! 5 stars. By Patrick Wilson
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