Imperial Exam Evolution
The imperial examination system in China saw significant changes over the centuries, peaking during the Song dynasty with hundreds of thousands of candidates. Initially focused on Confucian texts, the tests evolved to include subjects like poetry and mathematics, although they remained heavily reliant on rote memorization. Remarkably, the 19th century introduced women to the exams, culminating in the historic achievement of a woman scoring the highest in 1853. Ultimately, the exams were abolished in 1905 as part of modernization reforms.In this clip
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The Mandarin Class and Chinese Imperial Exams (Encore)
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