1898-1911

2011 8

Selection, Examination and Reeducation of the Jinshi Degree Holders in the

Late Qing Period: A Study of the Jinshiguan ()1898-1911

LI, Lin

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Philosophy
in
History

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

August 2011

Thesis/Assessment Committee
Professor LEUNG Yuen Sang (Chair)
Professor YIP Hon Ming (Thesis Supervisor)
Professor CHEUNG Sui Wai (Committee Member)
Professor LEE Kam Keung (External Examiner)

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Abstract of the thesis entitled:

Selection, Examination and Reeducation of the Jinshi Degree Holders in the
Late Qing Period: A Study of the Jinshiguan ()1898-1911
Submitted by LI Lin
for the degree of Master of Philosophy in History
at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (August 2011)

This thesis, as its title indicates, focuses specifically on the Jinshiguan, a

school which was established in 1904 attached to the former Imperial Peking University
for the reeducation of the newly admitted Jinshi by instilling modern legal,
political, economic and diplomatic knowledge into their minds. As it is known to all,
Jinshi were not only the highest degree holders under traditional Chinese civil
examination system but also formal candidates for government positions. Only through
years of intensive study of the Classics and fiercely competitive examinations one after
another could they succeed in obtaining the degree and qualification in the final Palace
Examination. It is without demur that they were the real elites in traditional China, in
cultural or political sense. Things changed, however, in the late 19th century, especially
after the commencement of the late Qing Reform. As one important item on the agenda
of this reform, the government planned to reorganize its bureaucracy and even the whole
political institutions in order to make a transition to constitutional monarchy. Moreover,
reforms of education, economy, military and communication systems were conducted
simultaneously from central to local levels. But the government gradually realized and
admitted that the Jinshi, albeit still indisputably elite members, were actually unqualified
to handle the newly emerging political, economic and diplomatic affairs under the
unprecedented situation then. The government nonetheless had no other alternatives but
continuing to appoint the Jinshi as officials since a new system for training and selecting
officials was far from established. These problems and the governments measures in
solving them, the effectiveness of such measures, as well as the reactions of the elites
concerned and their activities during the whole process are the primary concerns in this
research.
Based on detailed primary resources, this thesis first studies comprehensively the
Jinshiguan, because the development of this school, from its establishment to its
reorganization, is one of the two main dimensions of this research. Besides the history of
the institution itself, special attention will be paid to the jinshi of 1903 and 1904 as well.
Therefore, this study intends to explore how the late Qing government reeducated these
traditional elites for the implementation of the Reform, and how these elites adjusted
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themselves to the drastic changes in a new era. In addition, since students of the
Jinshiguan were sent to Japan (mainly admitted to Hosei University) for further studies,
the experiences and the effects of studying abroad will also be deliberated. Overall, the
authors objective is to provide reliable evidence for a comprehensive understanding of
the institution of the Jinshiguan, the intellectual elites in late traditional China, and the
transformation of Chinese education system at the turn of the century and its
implications for Chinas later development.
Apart from introduction and conclusion, the main body of the thesis will consist of the
following four chapters.
Chapter Two From the Eight-legged Essay to the Discourse on Western Learning: An
Investigation into the Metropolitan Examinations in 1903 and 1904.
Chapter Three Reeducation for the Elite Students of the Emperor: Description and
Evaluation of the Operation and Function of the Jinshiguan.
Chapter Four Jinshi Who Studied in Japan: An Analysis of the Group of Jinshi
Students at Hosei University of Japan.
Chapter Five How to Meet a Period of Tremendous Changes: Activities and Roles of
the Jinshiguan Students in the Late Qing and Early Republican Period.

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