Rituals Of Recruitment In Tang China: Reading An Annual Programme In The Collected Statements By Wang Dingbao (870-940) (Sinica Leidensia)

Based on translations of an unique Tang text, the Collected Statements , this work explores a worthy social commentary on the examination life that its compiler witnessed. Gradually providing a full picture of the civil service examination, it describes the emergence of the literary culture surrounding civil service examination recruitment during China's Tang dynasty (618-907); considers the series of rituals that Tang examination candidates underwent throughout the annual examinations; contrasts lavish court ceremonies of the early Tang period with more private rituals of acknowledgement that became fashionable in the second half of the dynasty. An annual programme of rituals became the cardinal definition of examination recruitment for both participants and onlookers. With valuable insights into the political and social tensions in the Tang history of competitive examination degrees. "Based on translations of an unique tenth-century text, the Collected Statements, this work explores a worthy social commentary on the examination life that its compiler witnessed." "Gradually providing a full picture of the civil service examination, it describes the emergence of the literary culture surrounding civil service examination recruitment during China's Tang dynasty (618-907). It considers the series of rituals that Tang examination candidates underwent throughout the annual examinations, contrasting lavish court ceremonies of the early Tang period with more private rituals of acknowledgement that became fashionable in the second half of the dynasty." "An annual programme of rituals became the cardinal definition of examination recruitment for both participants and onlookers. The interpretation of this programme offers valuable insights into the political and social tensions in the Tang history of examination degrees."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved Annotation This study analyzes records of annual ritual performances in order to trace the emergence of the culture of civil service examination recruitment in its social and political contexts during China's Tang dynasty (618-907)