Abstract:

After abolishing the imperial examination, the Qing government still continued to hold a variety of examinations, including “Xiaolianfangzheng” （recommending filial, incoorrupt, upright and foursquare scholars）. During the implementation of these tests, its original attributes and disadvantages of the imperial examination were entirely retained, which attracted great attention of the people and the public opinions at that time. This tells us that the remaining examination system, including Xiaolianfangzheng, actually stimulated people′s imperial examination worship during its operation. It is necessary for us to examine and reconstruct the operation and influence of the imperial examination system after its abolition in the Qing Dynasty.

Key words: Xiaolianfangzheng, RAO Zhi-xiang, YUAN Shu-xun, Chaokao