Question

In the Tang dynasty, which group of people were appointed to government positions based on educational accomplishments instead of family lineage?
a. peasants
b. royal family
c. military
d. scholar-gentry

Answer 1

Answer: The right answer is the D) scholar-gentry.  

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can also be added that mastering how to properly write in classical Chinese was very difficult, and only a small portion of the population was fully literate. Government officials were selected from that small group of highly educated citizens—after having passed a thorough examination—and they were socially highly estimated, powerful, and wealthy. That is why they were known as scholar-officials, scholar-gentlemen, scholar-bureaucrats, or literati. They were accomplished poets and could write essays on a wide variety of topics using various formal styles.  

Answer 2

The answer is D.

Tang Dynasty believed that creating a body of career official with no territorial or power base would prevent destabilizing consequences.  Thus, the dynasty selected the scholar-officials through civil service examinations.