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Northern Song Imperial Examination System

Type Object Region China Time 960–1127

The Northern Song imperial examination matured on the Tang foundation, centered on the jinshi examination, with anonymized and transcribed papers, no…

Timeline

  1. c. 960–1000Prefectures and circuits of the Northern Song · ChinaThe Northern Song inherited and reformed Tang examinations, establishing the jinshi-centered three-tier system of provincial, metropolitan, and palace exams, abolishing old practices such as submitting sample essays, and steadily expanding recruitment.
  2. c. 1071–1080Imperial Academy · HenanDuring the Xining era the three-hall system was introduced, selecting talent through graded assessment in the upper, middle, and outer halls of the Imperial Academy, linked with examination recruitment and reflecting further reform of talent selection under the New Policies.
  3. 1075Palace exam venue in Bianjing · HenanAnti-fraud measures such as anonymizing and transcribing papers were fully operational in the Northern Song; the palace exam was presided over by the emperor with no candidates failing, and successful jinshi became the core source of the Song bureaucracy.

Sources