Smirnova  N.V.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION SYSTEM (KEJU) IN DMITRY VOSKRESENSKYS RESEARCH AND TRANSLATIONS

Authors

Smirnova N.V.

Keywords:

Chinese civil service examination system (Keju), Qing dynasty, Chinese society, fiction, orientalist Dmitry Voskresensky

Abstract

Chinese civil service examination system (Keju) has been studied extensively by Russian and foreign orientalists. Scholars emphasize the unique and specific character of the Keju system, which existed for thirteen centuries and had a great impact on Chinese politics, society, culture and education. This article deals with the Qing-era civil examination system (Keju) as presented in the studies and translations by an outstanding Russian orientalist, Dmitry Voskresensky (19262017), noted for his translations of medieval and modern Chinese fiction. He was the first scholar to demonstrate the importance of fiction analysis for studying the content of Chinese civil service examinations. In Imperial China, Keju was an important tool for selecting sufficiently able, intelligent and loyal candidates for future positions in civil service.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION SYSTEM (KEJU) IN DMITRY VOSKRESENSKYS RESEARCH AND TRANSLATIONS