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"The Chinese Civil Service Exam System" by Ichisada Miyazaki Reading Questions & Discussion Prompts

What evidence suggests that China’s society was highly patriarchal?





What were boys expected to learn and study as part of their preparations for the exams? List at least five things. (Hint: there are several examples from pgs. 288-290)



At what age did formal education begin?


How did some students and tutors find shortcuts to learning? How did the Chinese government react to these shortcuts?




How do students take shortcuts to learning today? Give an example.





What general purpose did the civil service exams play? Why did Sui rulers embrace this system?






What problems did the Chinese aristocracy cause?






What are some positive effects of the Tang Dynasty examination system?





What were some negative effects of the Tang Dynasty examination system?



How did the Sung (Song) Dynasty improve the examination system? Give three examples.


DISCUSSION TOPICS/THOUGHTS:

Pick five of the following questions to answer IN-DEPTH on a separate sheet of paper. These will help you organize your thoughts for our in-class discussion. Feel free to write down additional thoughts, feelings, or questions that you wish to include in the discussion.

How did the Chinese civil service exam influence Chinese cultural values, ideas, and education?

What effects did the examination system have on the goals and values of young people?

How was the civil service exam used to reinforce the patriarchy?

What are some differences between "third wave" Chinese and Western European civilizations?

Did the Chinese Civil Service Exam create a more democratic society?

What role does testing play in our society today?

How is modern testing culture in the West different from that in the East?

What influence does the Civil Service Exam continue to have on modern Chinese / East Asian societies?

Does modern testing culture create a more or less democratic society?

Is discrimination present in modern day testing practices? If so, how?

How has testing impacted your life? Is it a positive or negative influence? (Please explain your response and include examples)

1 Answer

2 votes

Evidence that China's society was highly patriarchal:

- Only men could take the civil service exams and serve in government. Women were excluded.

- The primary goal of education was to prepare boys to take the exams. Girls were not educated.

- Confucian tradition emphasized distinct roles and virtues for men and women. Men dominated public life while women were confined to the domestic sphere.

Subjects boys studied to prepare for the exams:

- Confucian classics like the Analects, Mencius, Great Learning

- Poetry, history, philosophy

- Calligraphy

- Archery

- Horsemanship

- Mathematics

- Medicine

Formal education began around age 8.

Some students and tutors used shortcuts like memorizing only sections of texts instead of full understanding. The government reacted by broadening the exams to test fuller knowledge.

Today, students may shortcut learning by plagiarizing sources instead of doing original work. Or they may solely study previous test questions instead of full content.

General purpose of the civil service exams: To select officials for civil service positions based on merit rather than aristocratic birth. Sui rulers embraced this system to counter the power of aristocratic families.

Problems caused by aristocracy: Aristocrats amassed wealth and land, and challenged the emperor's power.

Positive effects of the Tang exam system: Promoted scholarship and education, allowed talented individuals to advance regardless of background, created a centralized bureaucracy based on merit.

Negative effects: Extreme focus on exam preparation rather than well-rounded education, expensive tutoring limited opportunity, stressful exam focus impacted health.

Improvements under Sung Dynasty: More emphasis on Confucian classics over rote memorization, added essay component requiring analysis and application.

Discussion thoughts:

- Influenced culture to value education highly, but education became too narrowly focused on exams.

- Determined life goals and careers based on exam success. Much pressure to succeed and family hopes pinned on performance.

- Reinforced patriarchy by excluding women from exams and government.

- Differences in family structure, religious beliefs, and social organization vs. Europe. More continuity in China.

- Not fully democratic since exams limited to elite men, but more meritocratic than aristocratic system.

- Testing impacts what and how students learn. Can limit deeper understanding.

- Current Western focus on standardized testing vs. East Asian focus on high-stakes exams for progression.

- Legacy continues in competitive exams for university and civil service positions.

- Can create elitism and inequality. But provides upward mobility.

- Can advantage certain groups over others. Issues of test bias persist.

- Tests cause much stress but allow me to demonstrate knowledge. Focus should be on learning, not just test scores.

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