Sui-Tang Imperial Examination System

Timeline

1. 587–618Daxing City · ChinaEmperor Wen of Sui reformed the recommendation system in the seventh year of Kaihuang, establishing xiucai, mingjing, and bingong categories; Emperor Yang changed bingong to the jinshi examination in the first year of Daye and added further categories, selecting men of 'fine literary talent' by examination essays, inaugurating examination-based official selection.
2. 618–649Chang'an · ChinaAfter the founding of the Tang, the Sui system was continued; during Wude, four categories including jinshi, mingjing, and junshi were held, with the Ministry of Rites managing the examinations, local tribute students traveling to the capital to sit them, successful candidates appointed to office, and the imperial examination operating alongside recommendation and hereditary privilege as a means of court selection.
3. 649–700Chang'an, Luoyang · ChinaFrom Gaozong onward the jinshi examination grew in importance; Wu Zetian personally presided over palace examinations and exceptionally promoted youths from humble families, expanding the scale of examination recruitment and making it a key channel for breaking the aristocratic monopoly and staffing the bureaucracy.