| Beginning in Sui Dynasty, formed in Tang Dynasty, perfected in Song Dynasty and abolished in Qing Dynasty, Imperial Examinations was the main System of choosing bureaucrats in China feudalistic societies with a history of nearly one thousand three hundred years. In Song Dynasty, the system changed greatly from Qualification Examination to Official Appointment Examination. From then on, it became the only way for the intellectuals to be an official by learning fixed-form articles, gaining scholarly honor and then ruling the civilians as an official. The reason why the system determined the intellectuals' fate in Song Dynasty was that there was no other way to resuming one's official career except passing Imperial Examinations.But cheating is the twin of examination, and the same was with the Imperial Examinations, say nothing of the rather cruel imperial examinations in Song Dynasty. Resuming from Song Dynasty, in order to curb the corruptions and neaten the law and practices in Imperial Examinations, the governors had gradually established a complete set of measures, which for sure took effect for some time. But the implementing of Examination Supervising System is principally preconditioned by political clearness.However, the Examination Supervising System from North Song Dynasty could not effectively prevent the worse and worse examination corruptions in South Song Dynasty, for great changes took place in politics, economy, culture etc, especially in the middle and late South Song Dynasty when cheating in examinations had been a socially common phenomenon from personal cheating actions and stealthy doings had evolved into publicly selling examination paper, bribing officials responsible for examinations and other vile behaviors. Therefore, the government of South Song Dynasty established a series of serious examination supervising policies. Besides, many insightful men cried for innovation to refrain the overspreading of imperial examinations corruption.
|
PDF Full Text Request