The Civil Service in Ancient China

The Civil Service in Ancient China

Learn about the civil service in Ancient China history. Government officials and the exams they had to pass

The Civil Service in Ancient China

What was it?

The civil service ran the government in ancient China. The Emperor received reports from hundreds of public servants spread out across the empire. Ministers that worked in the palace and answered to the Emperor were the highest ranking government officers. Ministers were powerful and rich members of the government.

When did it start?

The first Han Emperor, Gaozu, established the civil service in 207 BC during the Han Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu was aware that he was unable to rule the entire realm alone. He came to the conclusion that a strong and well-organized empire would benefit from having well educated ministers and government officials. The civil service that would manage the Chinese government for more than 2000 years started off in this manner.

Examinations

People had to pass exams in order to become civil servants. The higher position they could obtain in the civil service depended on how well they performed on the tests. The tests were really challenging. To pass the exams, many people would spend years studying at the Imperial University or with tutors. Many of the exams included Confucius’s philosophy and demanded extensive memorizing. The military, mathematics, geography, and calligraphy were additional topics. Poem writing was even required for some tests.

There were nine different levels or ranks of civil service. People could move to a higher rank by passing the next level of examinations. Only a very few of the brightest subjects were able to rise all the way to rank nine. These men became powerful and wealthy. The rank of an official could be determined by the type of badge they wore on their robe. Each rank had the picture of a different bird on their badge.

What did they do?

Civil servants helped to run the government. They had various jobs. The highest ranks worked in the palace and reported directly to the empire. These officials would have control over large areas of the empire. Other officials worked in local districts. They would collect taxes, enforce laws, and act as judges. They also kept the local census and often taught or managed local schools.

Was it a good job?

Working in the civil service was considered an excellent career and one of the most honorable in all of China. Only the rich could afford the education needed to pass the test and only men were allowed to take the tests. Even so, it is thought that at one point so many people were trying to get into the civil service that the chances of passing and getting a job were about 1 in 3,000.

Facts about Civil Service in Ancient China

• A prefect was responsible for a town and its surrounding farms. Prefects were sort of like mayors today.
• There were various uniforms and ways of determining rank depending on the era or dynasty. These included badges, hats, and necklaces.
• It is estimated that the number of officials in the civil service was well over 100,000.
• Cheating on the exams was met with harsh penalties including death.
• The civil service was an effort to establish a meritocracy. This means that people were promoted due to their “merit” or how well they scored on the exams and not based on their family or wealth. However, most of the officials came from wealthy and powerful families.

Read also: Festivals in Ancient China