Final answer:
The civil service examination system in China was designed to select educated administrators for government positions. However, it often favored the wealthy due to their access to resources, despite being based on merit. As time progressed, measures like anonymous grading were introduced to promote fairness and social mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil service examination system in China was intricately tied to the society's structure and mobility. Initially, during the Tang dynasty, although it presented an opportunity for educated individuals from non-aristocratic families to enter bureaucracy, it mainly favored the wealthy and those with aristocratic ties due to their access to educational resources and connections.
This means that in practice, it hindered social mobility at times, as the system could be manipulated by the influential and affluent. Over time, the examination system evolved to promote meritocracy, with exams being graded anonymously to prevent favoritism. However, even as the system became more merit-based, the reality remained complex. Traditional wealthy gentry families often found ways to retain their status, and while the system allowed for some social mobility, it did not fully equalize opportunities for all.