What is Jinshi?

In the ancient Chinese imperial examination system, those who passed the final central government imperial examination were called Jinshi.

It is the name for those who passed the imperial examination in ancient times. This title first appeared in "Book of Rites·Kingdom". During the Daye reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Jinshi subjects were introduced. This subject was also established in the Tang Dynasty. Anyone who took the exam was called a Jinshi, and those who passed the exam were called Jinshi.

In the Tang Dynasty, the two subjects of Jinshi and Mingjing were the most important. Later, poetry and poetry became the main examination content of Jinshi.

In the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, after passing the palace examination, those who passed the imperial examination were given the title of Jinshi. And it is divided into three levels: first level 3 people are awarded Jinshi and rank; second and third level are awarded Jinshi origin, same Jinshi background. Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty wrote in "Jiehuan Yuan Gong Xingzhi": "(Yuan Keli) Wuzi was promoted to the countryside, and he became a Jinshi."

Extended information

The Sui Dynasty first opened the Jinshi in 605 Ke, is regarded as the beginning of the imperial examination. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the "Jinshi Subject" was just one of the various subjects in the imperial examination, and the test was about poetry. Because the Jinshi subject is a regular subject and the most difficult to obtain, it is the most noble and its status is the first among all subjects. Before the Song Dynasty, Jinshi only had to pass the "provincial examination" held in Shangshu Province.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, candidates who were admitted into the palace examination were classified into the third class, which was called Sanjia. The top three are ranked first, second and third overall, and are called "Jinshi and the third". There are a number of Erjia (generally seven in the Qing Dynasty), who are called "Jinshi origin". The top three are said to be "from the same Jinshi family". The world collectively calls those admitted as "Jinshi". Jinshi is the end of one's fame. Even if one is dissatisfied with one's ranking, one cannot retake the exam.

From the time the first imperial examination was held in the Tang Dynasty to the abolition of the imperial examination in 1905, Jinshi were the protagonists of Chinese politics for nearly 1,300 years. Scholars who were educated solely by receiving orthodox Confucian education.

Baidu Encyclopedia—Jinshi