2. Imperial Power, Cultural Politics, and Civil Examinations in the Early Ming

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Contents VII
3. Illustrations IX
4. Tables XI
5. Preface XVII
6. Acknowledgments XXXVII
7. 1. Rethinking the Historical Roots of Late Imperial Civil Examinations 1
8. 2. Imperial Power, Cultural Politics, and Civil Examinations in the Early Ming 66
9. 3. Institutional Dynamics and Mobilization of Elites in Late Imperial Civil Examinations 125
10. 4. Examination Compounds and the Limits of Dynastic Power 173
11. 5. Classical Literacy and the Social Dimensions of Late Imperial Civil Examinations 239
12. 6. Emotional Anxiety, Dreams of Success, and the Examination Life 295
13. 7. The Cultural Scope of Civil Examinations and the Eight-Legged Essay among Elites 371
14. 8. Examiner Standards, Literati Interpretation, and Limits to the Dynastic Control of Knowledge 421
15. 9. Natural Studies, History, and Han Learning in Civil Examinations 460
16. 10. Acceleration of Cutricular Reform under Ch'ing Rule before 1800 521
17. 11. Delegitimation and Decanonization: The Pitfalls of Late Ch'ing Examination Reform 569
18. Appendix 1: Civil Examination Primary Sources, 1148–1904 627
19. Appendix 2: Civil Examination Primary Sources in the Mormon Genealogical Library 641
20. Appendix 3: Tables 646
21. Appendix 4: Timelines for Civil Examination Curriculum Change, 650–1905 729
22. Appendix 5: Major Types of Civil Examination Sources besides Gazetteers 738
23. Bibliography 741
24. Index 797