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[Exhibition] Ladder of Success: Life of Imperial Examination Candidates in the Qing Dynasty

The imperial civil service examination system, a long-established state institution for the selection of government officials, lasted for a thousand years from the Sui (581–618) to the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). In the Qing Empire, the exam system was continued to recruit talent, and for those able to pass the highly competitive exams, the system provided the opportunity for not only an official posting but also social upward mobility. This “ladder of success” was thus so impactful that the social identity and status of their families, not just the candidates themselves, would be forever changed.

Revolving around the life of the scholars taking part, this exhibition offers a glimpse into their pursuit of fame and fortune—full of both ups and downs—through archival materials, rare texts, and novels.