The Shaping and Characteristics of the Zhiju Examination System in the Tang Dynasty

The Zhiju Examination in the Tang Dynasty was established as a temporary official-selection system in accordance with the imperial edict.It had experienced the evolutionary process from oral examination to written examination and finally be- came part of the Imperial Examination System for selection of officials.Accounts of the Zhiju Examination in Tang Huiyao tell us about the years in which the system was carried out,the subjects which the candidates had to take and the names of the exami- nees who participated in such examinations,thus providing us with direct evidence of the major subjects offered under the system and the results of such examinations.Different from the other tests of the Imperial Examination System,the Zhiju Examination gave prominence to the selection of extraordinary talents on a wider scale.The Zhiju Examination was not only part of the entire Imperial Examination System,but also became a relatively independent testing system itself.The three most prominent factors or special characteristics were as follows:The emperor himself took charge of the examination;he also set questions on current af- fairs for the test;the candidates' results were considered together with recommendations when officials were selected.