Correct answer: A. China
China based government service on adherence to principles of Confucianism. Key texts from Confucius (551-471 BCE) were core material for the civil service examinations in imperial China, beginning in the Sui dynasty (581-618 CE) and reaching the height of development in the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 CE). Not only was the focus on Confucius, but on recognized authoritative commentaries on Confucius.