Aristocracy: The Tang Dynasty

Like earlier emperors, Tang rulers relied on a large bureaucracy.  Officials collected taxes, oversaw building and  irrigation  [irrigation: a means of supplying land with water]  projects, managed the army, and enforced the laws.  But how could emperors ensure that they selected the best people for these positions?

Earlier emperors answered this question in different ways. Before the Han dynasty, emperors chose members of the aristocracy [aristocracy: a ruling class of noble families] to help them govern. These people were born into noble families of wealthy and powerful landowners. However, simply being wealthy did not guarantee an individual was talented or knowledgeable.

To improve the bureaucracy, Han emperors created civil service examinations [civil service examinations: a test given to qualify candidates for positions in the government] in which candidates took long tests to qualify for office.  The tests had questions on Chinese classics, poetry, and legal and administrative issues.  Mainly, they were based on the works of Confucius (kon-FEW-shus), China's great philosopher and teacher.  This began the system under which a class of scholar-officials ran the government.

Later, Tang emperors also used civil service exams to fill some government positions. Early in the dynasty, however, emperors chose aristocrats for most high-level jobs. Some officials were hired because their fathers or grandfathers had held high government rank, and some were hired because of personal recommendations. Often, aristocrats gained positions by marrying into the imperial family.

Even the civil service exams favored aristocrats.  The tests were supposedly open to all except for certain groups, such as merchants, actors, and beggars.  In theory, any man could attend the university where students prepared for the exams.  In reality, however, only the wealthy could afford tutors, books, and time to study properly.  As a result, aristocrats held almost all offices in the early part of the Tang dynasty.

After peasant rebellions and battles between generals ended the Tang dynasty in 907, China split apart once again. Five military dynasties followed one another to power in the north, while the south broke up into independent kingdoms.

Beginning in 960, the Song (SOONG) dynasty rose. Gradually, Song emperors reunified the country. As you will see, they built on the civil service system to reform how government officials were chosen.

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