A cultural history of civil examinations in late imperial China / Benjamin A. Elman.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 741-796) and index.

Rethinking the historical roots of late imperial civil examinations -- Imperial power, cultural politics, and civil examination in the early Ming -- Institutional dynamics and the mobilization of elites in late imperial civil examinations -- Examination compounds and the limits of dynastic power -- Classical literacy and the social dimensions of late imperial civil examinations -- Emotional anxiety, dreams of success, and the examination life -- The cultural scope of civil examinations and the eight-legged essay among elites -- Examiner standards, literati interpretation, and limits to the dynasitc control of knowledge -- Natural studies, history, and Han learning in civil examinations -- Acceleration of curricular reform under Ch'ing rule before 1800 -- Delegitimation and decanonization : the pitfalls of late Ch'ing examination reform -- Appendix 1 : civil examination primary sources, 1148-1904 -- Appendix 2 : civil examination primary sources in the Mormon genealogical library -- Appendix 3 : tables -- Appendix 4 : timelines for civil examination curriculum change, 650-1905 -- Appendix 5 : major types of civil examination sources besides gazetteers.