Imperial Examination System 科举制度 Imperial Examination System

科举制度 Starting from Sui Dynasty, the government chose officials based on the result of a series of exams, and only people who passed certain levels of these exams were allowed to work for the government – the only good job at that time - and this system is called “Imperial Examination System”; Everyone was allowed to take the exams; so common people were given chance to get important positions and change their life; Inherited by all dynasties after Sui till Qing, the last dynasty and lasted for around 1,400 years;

科举制度 Success in the highest level of the exams, which took place in the forbidden city and supervised by the emperor himself, was the best and most honorable thing that could ever happen to a person back that time; After the highest level of the exams, the top 3 winners were allowed to go through a gate which usually only the emperor himself could use; Was one of the most important systems in Chinese history and has huge influence on the whole culture even today; Was the reason why East Asian people attach so much importance to education.

The highest level of the exams took place in the Forbidden City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjIrSfH7ZGw (5’30” ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpXyngKkWKc&feature=related