On the Changes and the Closing down of Zhiju Testing System in the Tang Dynasty

The Zhiju testing system was a special part of the imperial examination in the Tang dynasty,which shared close connection with the society and politics at that time.In the early stage of the Tang dynasty,there were frequent exams under the Zhiju testing system,and the subjects which the candidates had to take were multifarious and disorderly,and the qualified weren’t selected for a definite purpose.In the late Tang dynasty,the Zhiju testing system became an important means of selecting senior officials when the subjects were finalized gradually.The rulers paid equal attention to the talents selection and the policy advice ,and encouraged the testees to use blunt words to remonstrate.Therefore it became a mode of political struggle for the lower-level officials to discuss the government affairs by means of political essays ,and to remonstrate candidly to the Emperor.However ,with political situation worsened,and especially the power of the eunuch greatly strengthened,the Zhiju testing system couldn’t be carried out as scheduled,and the political turbulence was aggravated.So Zhiju testing system came to an end in the second year of Da-he.The vicissitudes and development of the Zhiju testing system reflected the changes of the political situation of the Tang dynasty,as well as the inherent ,deep-rooted and insoluble contradictions of the imperial ,autocratic system.