Rituals of Recruitment in Tang China : : Reading an Annual Programme in the Collected Statements by Wang Dingbao (870-940) / / Oliver Moore.

• Superior document: Sinica Leidensia ; 65
• VerfasserIn: Moore, Oliver,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden;, Boston : : BRILL,, 2004.
• Year of Publication: 2004
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Sinica Leidensia ; 65.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (422 p.)
• Notes: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Based on translations of an unique Tang text, the Collected Statements , this work explores a worthy social commentary on the examination life that its compiler witnessed. Gradually providing a full picture of the civil service examination, it describes the emergence of the literary culture surrounding civil service examination recruitment during China's Tang dynasty (618-907); considers the series of rituals that Tang examination candidates underwent throughout the annual examinations; contrasts lavish court ceremonies of the early Tang period with more private rituals of acknowledgement that became fashionable in the second half of the dynasty. An annual programme of rituals became the cardinal definition of examination recruitment for both participants and onlookers. With valuable insights into the political and social tensions in the Tang history of competitive examination degrees.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Note to the reader -- 1. The annual programme of examination recruitment -- The origins and development of the examination system -- Degree titles -- Syllabi in the annual examinations -- The birth of an examination society -- Ritual performances -- 2. Wang Dingbao and the compilation of Collected Statements -- The life of the compiler -- The compilation of the text -- Documentary sources in Collected Statements -- Conclusion -- 3. Selections in the prefectures -- The rising status of Tang tribute scholars -- Early and late Tang engagements with prefectural examinations -- The status of "degree-worthy -- Reforms of prefectural selections at the capital -- Conclusion -- 4. Ceremonies of induction -- Recruitment as enactments of state ritual -- The community wine-drinking ceremony -- The court assembly -- The visit to the former teachers -- Conclusion -- 5. Experiences of the examination ground -- Visits to examination patrons -- Examination sessions -- Lyrical views of the examination ground -- Announcing the results -- Conclusion -- 6. Ceremonies of gratitude -- Hopeful gatherings -- The ceremony of gratitude -- The ceremony of gratitude and factionalism -- The procession through the Hall -- Conclusion -- 7. Celebrations of success -- The formation of a jinshi association and its agenda -- The development of the Qujiang resort -- The organization of Qujiang banquets -- Examinations and the Chang'an seasonal calendar -- Examination celebrations as records of Chang'an social life -- Conclusion -- 8. Conclusion -- Appendix: Contents and Sources of the Collected Statements -- Cited works -- Chinese character list -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- X -- Y -- Z.