China's Competitive Examinations

This book examines China’s imperial examination system over its 1,300-year history, from 605 to 1905, alongside the modern college entrance examination system, known as the Gaokao, which has a history of more than seventy years.

Bringing historical and educational perspectives together, the book explores the influence of these two examination systems on learning and student development. It examines the education and development of scholars in imperial China and the impact of the Gaokao on students in modern China. Its discussion of the Gaokao addresses both the principles that have shaped its development and recent reforms. By examining the two systems within a single study, the book offers a historical perspective on the relationship between examination culture and student development in China.

This book will be of interest to researchers and scholars in comparative education, the history of education and East Asian studies, as well as readers interested in China’s examination systems.