A Study On The System Of Examination In Ming Dynasty

Shizhi system is an indispensable part of the country’s political institutions of Ming Dynasty. It begins in Hongwu period. Up to the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Shizhi system has always existed.Because of the social background in that time, the hongwu period is the heyday of the Shizhi system. As time goes by, the position of Shizhi has decreased gradually. From the interim to the end of the Ming Dynasty, the post of Shizhi has been fastened.The primary Shizhi positions of civilian are supervising censors and secretary while the military officers are Baihu and Suo zhenfu. Shizhi system has changed during the Ming Dynasty. The variations of Shizhi mainly reflect in two aspects. One of the transformations is that the positions of Shizhi are less and less,finally fixed on the particular post. The other is the post’s specific changes of Shizhi, for example, the supervising censors, It has changed in time of Shizhi and the person who was honored with Shizhi.The effect of Shizhi has changed during the Ming Dynasty. The Shizhi system has engendered definite effect to the officialdom in the Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of Ming Dynasty, Shizhi just as a touchstone which is to verify if the officials competent or not.If he is competent,he will get the position.If he isn’t competent, he will get another post. As time goes by, the effect of Shizhi has added other functions besides touchstone. Firstly, It has a possibility to get a higher post for the low position soldier who has gained the military exploit which has improved the soldier’s motivation in significant measure. Secondly, It’s also a measure for the country to win the people’s support which reflects in the military officers. The descendant of meritorious statesman can get a Shizhi post by patron-client.No matter what the specific role of Shizhi is, Shizhi system is an indispensable part of the whole administrative system of Ming Dynasty. It makes the state, to achieve rational use of the human resourses. It also makes the officers to learn the relevant knowledge, augment the opinion and promote the competence during the process of Shizhi. On these ways, the effect of Shizhi is positive in the whole Ming Dynasty. But does not rule out the negative effects. It makes the number of officials increased substantially. The number of officialdom beyonds the requirements.And in this case, It increases the burden of national finance partly.