The Jinshi Examination for the Jurchens and Its Impact on the Jurchen Polity in the Twelfth-Thirteenth Century
Resource
臺大歷史學報, 33, 097-132
Journal
臺大歷史學報
Journal Issue
33
Pages
097-132
Date Issued
2004-06
Date
2004-06
Author(s)
Hsu, P.Y.
Abstract
Beginning in the Sui and Tang periods, the civil service examinations was an important system for selecting government officials. Rulers in the Song dynasty placed great value on the Jinshi examinations, with the result that those who entered officialdom through the examinations played an important role in government. The Khitan Liao court and the early Jin rulers also used the examination system to select officials, but the status and influence of these officials rarely reached those of the heirs of prominent Khitan or Jurchen ministers or the imperial clansmen. And it seems that the Jinshi exam did not become the route to the dominant class. It was not until 1173, under Jin Shizong (r. 1161 1189) that a special Jurchen-language Jinshi examination system was held on behalf of Jurchen language scholars. This was in conjunction with Shizong's classics translation project. Because of the success of this examination, from 1180 until the end of the dynasty, Jurchen special exams became a formal part of the Jin civil service examination system. This article has two objectives. The first is to assess the process of the establishment of this system, to understand the reasoning of Shizong and his Jurchen ministers in implementing this policy to achieve the goal of promoting Jurchens with civil capability. The second is to examine the Jurchen civil talent that emerged from this official track after the appearance of Jurchen Jinshi in the government, and to explore the impact on the divisions of power within the Jurchen polity.
Subjects
金代
女真文字
女真進士科
策論進士
金世宗
金章宗
Jin dynasty
Jurchen
Jurchen language
Jinshi examination for the Jurchen
Shizong Emperor r. 1161-1189
Zhangzong Emperor r. 1l89-1208
Type
journal article
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