GUIDE TO READING NOTES 16

Read Sections 16.2 to 16.6. Answer the related questions as if you were a
candidate for a government (civil service) position in China.
16.2 The Government of Imperial China
1. According to the Mandate of Heaven, when can people overthrow the emperor?
People can overthrow an emperor when he rules badly.

2. What is a bureaucracy? What happened when the bureaucracy in China became corrupt?
A bureaucracy is an organized group of government officials. When the bureaucracy
became corrupt, people suffered from high taxes, forced labor, and attacks by bandits.

3. What happened to China when the Han dynasty lost the Mandate of Heaven? Who
reunited China?
When the Han dynasty fell, China broke into separate kingdoms. It was reunited by
the Sui dynasty.

16.3 Aristocracy: The Tang Dynasty

1. Who were scholar-officials?
Scholar-officials were scholars who got government jobs through examinations.

2. What was the examination for scholar-officials primarily based on?

The examination was primarily based on the teachings of Confucius.

3. Why did aristocrats continue to hold most offices?

Only the wealthy could afford the tutors, books, and time to study needed to prepare
for the exams.

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GUIDE TO READING NOTES 16

16.4 Meritocracy: The Song Dynasty
1. According to emperors and scholars, knowledge of Confucius would produce what
type of government official?
Government officials who had studied Confucius would be rational, moral, and
able to maintain order.
2. What new group of people was allowed to become government officials during the
Song period?
People from lower classes were allowed to become government officials.

3. Why did people want government jobs?

People wanted these jobs because government officials were respected and were excused
from taxes and military service.

16.5 Government by Foreigners: The Period of Mongol Rule

1. Whom did Kublai Khan choose to fill important government positions?
He appointed relatives, other Mongols, and trusted foreigners.

2. What happened to Chinese scholars during the Mongol rule?

Chinese scholars worked only as teachers and minor government officials.

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GUIDE TO READING NOTES 16

16.6 The Revival of the Civil Service System
1. How did hiring scholars help China?
Hiring scholars emphasized moral behavior, justice, kindness, loyalty to the
emperor, proper conduct, and the importance of family. It insured that officials
were trained and talented, and it allowed the ambitious and hard working
from all classes the chance to succeed.

2. How did hiring scholars hurt China?

People who knew science, mathematics, or engineering were kept out of government.
Because Confucian scholars had little respect for merchants, trade and business
were not encouraged.

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