Question

How did some students and tutors find shortcuts to learning? How did the Chinese government react to these shortcuts?

Answer 1

According to a different source, this question refers to the text "The Chinese Civil Service Exam System” by Ichisada Miyazaki.

In this text, we learn that the Chinese civil service examination system originated in Ancient China nearly fourteen hundred years ago. Therefore, it is one of the oldest examination systems in the world.

The system was intended to identify the most capable young men in China, and educate them so that they might become part of the government. However, this was a long, difficult and tedious process, and many students and tutors found useful shortcuts to learning. For example, rapid-study methods were devised, such as compiled collections of examination answers.

The Chinese government was aware of such methods, which were strongly condemned. Students who employed them were failed. The government also issued frequent prohibitions of the publication of such materials. However, the success of the business meant that such prohibitions were often unsuccessful.