On the Relationship Between the Study of Chinese Classics and the Imperial Examinations System in the 18th Century

With the Qianlong (1736-1799) and Jiaqing(1796-1819) School of Thoughts becoming prevalent the Chinese classics were studied and taught in academies. Because of the differences between those academies and the imperial examination oriented schools, some people figured that scholars of Qianlong and Jiaqing School were against imperial examination system. In fact, they not only attached importance to the grades resulted from the imperial examination in appointing the leading scholars, but also advocated stereotyped writing to meet the need of imperial examination. There is a close relation between this School and the imperial examination system.