Abstract: The Imperial Examination System was the most important approach to Identity, Fortune and Prospect for the intellectuals in the history of traditional China. The GongMing concept dominated the fate of the intellectuals and derived its effect to the entire community, which turned into a kind of collective unconsciousness. The GongMing concept had a broad impact even after 1905 when the Imperial Examination System was abolished. For this reason, the Imperial Government developed the system of awarding degrees, which guaranteed the continuation of the incentive economy. The GongMing concept had a lasting influence in the Times of the Republic of China. Based on the diversification of the GongMing concept, this paper analyses the multiple aspect of Society of Knowledge People in Near-Modern China and its long-standing affect. By means of depicting the vicissitude of the GongMing concept, the paper goes on to explain the complex history of knowledge transition and the dilemma of institutional change in modern China.

Key words: the Imperial Examination System, the GongMing concept, Society of Knowledge People, the Near-Modern China