Chinese Imperial Exam charm
Brass charm from China, made during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and intended as a good luck charm for the Chinese Imperial Examination. Obverse reads "Xi bao san yuan" ("Good news [of a ] triple first [the highest possible score in the Exam]." Reverse shows crude drawings of a phoenix and tiger, two auspicious animals, and some other features that might be clouds(?).
The Chinese Imperial Examination began during the Tang dynasty and continued through several dynasties until finally ending in 1905. It is regarded as a forerunner of modern Civil Service exams, in that it was the chief qualification to enter the Imperial bureaucracy. The Exam was essay-based and tested the applicant's knowledge of the Confucian classics as well as ability to write in a highly literary style. The best candidates in the annual local and Provincial exams would be sent to the capital every third year for a national exam, which was overseen by the Emperor himself. The Examination helped ensure cultural unity across China's vast area, and gave opportunities for talented young men to join the cultural and political elite.
Chinese Imperial Exam charm
Brass charm from China, made during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and intended as a good luck charm for the Chinese Imperial Examination. Obverse reads "Xi bao san yuan" ("Good news [of a ] triple first [the highest possible score in the Exam]." Reverse shows crude drawings of a phoenix and tiger, two auspicious animals, and some other features that might be clouds(?).
The Chinese Imperial Examination began during the Tang dynasty and continued through several dynasties until finally ending in 1905. It is regarded as a forerunner of modern Civil Service exams, in that it was the chief qualification to enter the Imperial bureaucracy. The Exam was essay-based and tested the applicant's knowledge of the Confucian classics as well as ability to write in a highly literary style. The best candidates in the annual local and Provincial exams would be sent to the capital every third year for a national exam, which was overseen by the Emperor himself. The Examination helped ensure cultural unity across China's vast area, and gave opportunities for talented young men to join the cultural and political elite.