Rituals of recruitment in Tang China : reading an annual programme in the Collected statements by Wang Dingbao (870-940) / by Oliver J. Moore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Moore, Oliver J.

Series:

Sinica Leidensia ; v. 65.

Sinica Leidensia, 0169-9563 ; v. 65

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civil service--China--Examinations--History.

Civil service.

China--Officials and employees--Recruiting--History.

China.

China--History--Tang dynasty, 618-907.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (422 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Based on translations of an unique Tang text, the Collected Statements , this work explores a worthy social commentary on the examination life that its compiler witnessed. Gradually providing a full picture of the civil service examination, it describes the emergence of the literary culture surrounding civil service examination recruitment during China's Tang dynasty (618-907); considers the series of rituals that Tang examination candidates underwent throughout the annual examinations; contrasts lavish court ceremonies of the early Tang period with more private rituals of acknowledgement that became fashionable in the second half of the dynasty. An annual programme of rituals became the cardinal definition of examination recruitment for both participants and onlookers. With valuable insights into the political and social tensions in the Tang history of competitive examination degrees.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Acknowledgements

Note to the reader

1. The annual programme of examination recruitment

The origins and development of the examination system

Degree titles

Syllabi in the annual examinations

The birth of an examination society

Ritual performances

2. Wang Dingbao and the compilation of Collected Statements

The life of the compiler

The compilation of the text

Documentary sources in Collected Statements

Conclusion

3. Selections in the prefectures

The rising status of Tang tribute scholars

Early and late Tang engagements with prefectural examinations

The status of "degree-worthy

Reforms of prefectural selections at the capital

4. Ceremonies of induction

Recruitment as enactments of state ritual

The community wine-drinking ceremony

The court assembly

The visit to the former teachers

5. Experiences of the examination ground

Visits to examination patrons

Examination sessions

Lyrical views of the examination ground

Announcing the results

6. Ceremonies of gratitude

Hopeful gatherings

The ceremony of gratitude

The ceremony of gratitude and factionalism

The procession through the Hall

7. Celebrations of success

The formation of a jinshi association and its agenda

The development of the Qujiang resort

The organization of Qujiang banquets

Examinations and the Chang'an seasonal calendar

Examination celebrations as records of Chang'an social life

8. Conclusion

Appendix: Contents and Sources of the Collected Statements

Cited works

Chinese character list

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W

X

Y

Z.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [355]-379) and index.

ISBN:

1-280-91537-4

9786610915378

90-474-0571-4

1-4294-0843-X

OCLC:

191932934

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789047405719 DOI