关键词: 天下有事, 捐纳, 保举, 科举制度

Abstract:

In the 1300 years after the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the imperial examination system of“choosing by examinations” became the principal way to select officials. By the middle of the nineteenth century, when China simultaneously faced domestic troubles and foreign invasion, the country faced widespread fiscal exigencies and the government began to grant degrees to financial donors and to promote individuals based on military achievements. This opened another route for individuals to win honor and achieve promotion other than through imperial examinations. Although donations and recommendation were different ways, over several few decades many officials followed these new routes, and this had gradually had an impact on the imperial examination system. Eventually, these developments changed the original meaning of the old way of selecting officials. In effect, theimperial examination system had already lost its future even before it was ended.

Key words: turmoil, donation, recommendation, imperial examination system