3. Meritocracy: The Song Dynasty

3. Meritocracy: The Song Dynasty

Under Song emperors, the idea of scholar-officials reached its height. The Song relied on civil service exams and made them available to far more candidates, creating a meritocracy.

A new school of thought known as neo-Confucianism influenced the exams. This new teaching blended the teachings of Confucius with elements of Buddhism and Daoism (two traditional religions in China).

A Confucian scholar, Zhu Xi (JU SHEE), commented on classic Chinese writings. In 1190, his work was published as the Four Books, which became the basis of study for all civil service exams.

meritocracy: rule by officials of proven merit

Confucius taught that people must act properly in five important relationships:  ruler and subject, father and son, older  sibling  and younger sibling, husband and wife, and friend and friend.  Except for friends, one person in each relationship is above the other.  Those above should be kind to those below, while those below should respect and obey those above.  In particular, subjects must be loyal to their rulers.  Song emperors and scholars believed that officials who had studied Confucius would be  rational , moral, and able to maintain order.

sibling: a brother or sister

rational: using reason and understanding

Under the Song, people from lower classes gained the ability to become scholar-officials since they could attend the new state-supported schools and continue on to the university.  If they passed a local test, they became eligible to take the imperial exam in the capital.  On those exams, they wrote essays and poems in a certain style and answered questions about political and social problems based on Confucian ideas.

The exams were organized to prevent cheating.  Candidates were locked in a small room for several days.  A second person copied each paper so that the examiners would not know whose work they were reading.

Only a small proportion of candidates passed the difficult exams. Those who failed could take the tests again in the future. Those who passed had to wait a few years before their first appointment. When it came, it was for a job far from their hometown, so that they could not give unfair advantages to their family and friends. At the end of three years, officials could move up in rank.

Despite the challenges, people were happy to receive such respected positions. As government officials, they also enjoyed certain privileges, such as being excused from taxes and military service.

Multiple Choice

rule by officials of proven merit

• sibling

• rational

• meritocracy

Multiple Choice

using reason and understanding

• sibling

• rational

• meritocracy

Multiple Choice

a brother or sister]

• sibling

• rational

• meritocracy

Multiple Choice

According to Zhu Xi , which of the five important relationships did NOT possess a hierarchy?

• ruler and subject

• friend and friend

• older and younger siblings

• father and son

• husband and wife

Multiple Choice

People from lower classes were also allowed to become government officials by attending state-supported local schools and could go on to the university to become scholars.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What was a benefit of having a government job

• Respect

• you didnt have to work

Multiple Choice

Getting a job in the government was...

• easy

• hard

Multiple Choice

Getting a job in the government took

• No time at all

• It took years