Final answer:
China's civil service exam was based on Confucianism, an Eastern philosophy, rather than any Western philosophy. Focused on Confucian and Daoist texts, the exams were a route for educational merit to determine administrative positions, contributing to a tradition of governance by an educated, virtuous elite.
Step-by-step explanation:
China's civil service exam was not based on any Western philosophy; instead, it was deeply rooted in Confucianism, a native Eastern philosophy. The civil service examinations in imperial China evaluated scholars on their mastery of Confucian and Daoist classics, literary skills, and knowledge of practical governance. Achieving success in the exams could elevate an individual of any social standing to high positions in the imperial administration.
During the Tang Dynasty, scholars from various backgrounds, who could afford the classical education, had the opportunity to attend government schools and prepare for these exams, which were administered every three years. The examinations were viewed as democratic for allowing the rise to power based on educational merit rather than inheritance or birth but were still partially biased towards those from noble families who had better access to educational resources and social networks.
The exams fostered a meritocratic system creating an educated gentry class that managed Chinese society, maintaining a tradition of enlightened administrative governance influenced by Confucian virtues and knowledge.