Imperial China lll:The Examination System Officials are selected by a ferociously competitive examination system The exam was testing things mostly irrelevant to the job Knowledge of the Confucian classics and historical literature Calligraphy and ability to write poetry and essays in a particular style Why have the smartest people spend a decade or two studying this stuff? A test of IQ and willingness to work hard? ·Indoctrination Is our emphasis on a college education a modern equivalent? Imperial China III: The Examination System • Officials are selected by a ferociously competitive examination system • The exam was testing things mostly irrelevant to the job • Knowledge of the Confucian classics and historical literature • Calligraphy and ability to write poetry and essays in a particular style • Why have the smartest people spend a decade or two studying this stuff? • A test of IQ and willingness to work hard? • Indoctrination • Is our emphasis on a college education a modern equivalent?