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The civil service examination system

During this period, the examination system flourished in the form
which it took in Han times. At intervals the Emperor issued a call for
recommendations. Thereupon the commanderies and kingdoms (later
also the high court officials) each recommended for the imperial service
one or more (depending upon the number requested) of those persons
whom they thought suitable. All those recommended were not of the
same type; in 135, Emperor Wu asked each commandery and kingdom
to recommend one person of filial piety and one incorrupt person. Later
emperors varied somewhat the qualities requested; the two above mentioned
remained the usual ones. The terms, Filially Pious, Incorrupt,
Capable and Good, etc., which were originally merely names of the
qualities desired, soon became virtual titles denoting those persons who
had been thus recommended.

When these Capable and Good persons arrived at the court, they were
set a written examination. From the questions set by Emperor Wen,
which are quoted in 56: 1b-3a, 6: 4b-5b, and 58: 1b-2b, we see that they
really amounted to an invitation for general advice concerning the government,
to be couched in literary terms. Some of the outstanding replies
are also quoted; cf. those of Tung Chung-shu (56: 3a-19a, trans. in
Mit. d. Sem. f. Or. Spr., 1922, pp. 1-50) and of Kung-sun Hung (58:
2b-4a). These examination papers were graded by the Grand Master
of Ceremonies (58: 4a), after which they were again read by the Emperor,
who sometimes changed a name from the bottom to the top of
the list. Thereupon those who were approved were given minor positions
in the bureaucracy. Examinations were also given yearly to the
students at the Imperial University, and those who passed might be
given government employment.