Jinshi
Jinshi was the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China. The examination was usually taken in the imperial capital in the palace, and was also called the Metropolitan Exam. Recipients are sometimes referred to in English-language sources as Imperial Scholars.
The highest scoring jinshi in the country was known as the zhuangyuan, a term that survives today in China as a high scoring gaokao test taker or just someone who is very good at a skill.
History
China
The jinshi degree was first created after the institutionalization of the civil service exam. Initially it had been "for six categories" but was later consolidated into a single degree. The examination system first appeared during the Han dynasty, but the jinshi degree first appeared under the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui. During the Tang dynasty, every year around one to two percent of test takers would obtain a jinshi title out of a total of one to two thousand test takers. By the second half of the Tang dynasty, the majority of senior government officials were jinshi degree holders.The numbers of jinshi degrees given out were increased in the Song dynasty, and the examinations were given every three years. Most senior officials of the Song dynasty were jinshi holders.
The Ming dynasty resumed the civil-service exam after its occurrence became more irregular in the Yuan dynasty. After the reign of the Emperor Yingzong of Ming, it became the rule that only jinshi holders could enter the Hanlin Academy. On average around 89 jinshi per year were conferred.
During the Qing dynasty around 102 jinshi degrees were given a year.
Korea
Durning the Goryeo Dynasty, anyone who passed civil service examination were called.Durning the Joseon dynasty, among the Confucian students who passed the , those who passed were called. The were eligible for appointment only to lower-ranking posts and , and for admission to the Sŏnggyun'gwan. Unlike in China, where the was the highest and final degree of the imperial examinations, the Joseon was a lower-level title.
Subtypes of ''jinshi'' recipients
- Jinshi Jidi, graduates ranked first class in the court exam, usually only the top three individuals were qualified for this title.
- * Zhuangyuan, the jinshi who ranked first overall nationwide.
- * Bangyan, the jinshi who ranked second overall just below zhuangyuan.
- * Tanhua, the jinshi ranked third overall.
- Jinshi Chushen, the graduates who ranked second class in court exam, ranking immediately after the tanhua.
- Tong Jinshi Chushen, graduates ranked third class in the court exam.