Author(s)

Dandan Wang ¹, Yunfei Shui ²

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710122, China
² Xi'an Modern Control Technology Research Institute, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710065, China

Corresponding Author

Dandan Wang

ABSTRACT

Under the centralizing bureaucratic system of the Joseon Dynasty, which was dominated by Confucianism, the literary examination (mun-gwa) was a test to select the civil officials who were at the core of central politics. However, not everyone was granted unlimited eligibility to take this examination. Regardless of whether it was a regular or special exam, candidates had to undergo eligibility reviews at each stage of the examination process, including the preliminary test (cho-si) and the main test (jeon-si), before being allowed to take the exam. During the Joseon Dynasty, the eligibility for civil service examinations primarily drew attention due to issues related to the class system. However, from the perspective of the operation of the examination system, the academic requirements necessary for taking the examination became the actual qualifications for eligibility. There were many obstacles to the realization of the state's ideal of linking state-run education with civil service examination eligibility in practice. Consequently, continuous reforms of the system became inevitable. However, the government continued its efforts to manage examination candidates. One notable phenomenon that emerged during this time was the steady increase in the number of individuals qualified to take the civil service examinations.

KEYWORDS

Gwageo, Qualification, Goryeo Period in Korea

CITE THIS PAPER

Dandan Wang, Yunfei Shui, Qualifications for the Civil Service Examination during the Goryeo Period in Korea. Lecture Notes on History (2024) Vol. 6: 123-128. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/history.2024.060117.

REFERENCES

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[6] Lee Seong-moo, "Qualifications for the Literary Examination in Early Joseon," Journal of Academic Papers 9, Kookmin University, 1974, pp. 77-84.
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[9] Kim Gyeong-yong, "The Process of Reforming the Civil Service Examination System in the Mid-Joseon Period and Its Educational Significance," Journal of Educational History 20-1, Society for Educational History, 2010, pp. 7-14.

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