The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-06-21
Chinese Literature Examination.

The examinations of students are PEE
culiar to China. They are four in num-
ber and in degrees. The first examina-
ton takes place in the town or village,
and all persons are eligible as candi-
dates. Those who pass this trial are
said to have name in the village. The
second examination is held in the dis
trict town, before what we would call
literary Judge. All in the district who
were successful at the first examination
are eligible for the second, and some
times as many as $4,000 students are
collected on these occasions at Canton.
The examinations last three days, and
each day theme is given on which the
candidates receive the first literary de-
gree. The third examination is held
in provincial town every third year,
and is open to all the students in the
province who have received the first de-
gree. Two examiners are sent from
Pekin, who, with the literary Judges,
form board of twelve examiners. In
the place of the examination are sew
eral thousand small cells. The COM
petitors give their names, ages, lineage,
ETC., and are carefully searched TO see
that they have not secreted any copy of
the classics about them. They are then
furnished with writing materials, and
shut up separately in small cells for
two days, during which time they are
required to compose essays and poems
on given subjects. The same subjects
are given TO all the candidates, and each
is expected to use at least 200 charac-
ters in his composition. AT Canton
| 4Ia,.a will ha con, ,atiu,aa y O00 oand;
dates at one examination, of which only
seventy-two can be successful, the di-
plomas being limited TO that number
To read and determine the merits Of
| 1000 essays on the same subject
is tedious and laborious work. The
names of the candidates to whom the
degree is awarded are announced at
midnight from one of the watch-towers,
and placarded next morning over the
city. The candidates are honored with
a banquet in the Governors Palace,
and afterward receive the congratula-
tions of their friends. Unsuccessful
candidates are allowed to try again at
subsequent examinations as long as
they please. There have been instances
of father, son and grandfather appear.
ing as competitors at the same time.
The fourth examination takes place al
Pekin, and all who have passed the
previous examinations are allowed to
compete. The manner of proceeding
for examination is the same as for the
second degree; those who are success
full receive the third degree and are
eligible for important offices. The
fourth degree is an office itself; those
who obtain it reside at the court, and by
this policy the men of the greatest tai
ents are collected at the capital. Even
the Emperor's son has to pass these
examinations.
The benefit of this system of exam
ination is that it excites the mass OF
people TO apply themselves to learning,
and keeps up high educational stand
ard. The books they are required tc
study are the best in the language, and
to have any chance of success they are
compelled TO become SO thoroughly ac-
duainted with their contents that they
can never forget them. Among the
: evils of the system may be mentioned
the carrying Of each and every student
through the same routine of ancien
lore, and burdening his memory witt
: it, the effect being to destroy the powei
of originality and invention by filling
the mind with the admiration of an
tiquity. Apparently the people o
China neither hope nor desire to b.
, any wiser than their fathers were
L. n. Butler, in Chicago journal.