Abstract:

The Binxing ( with the literal meaning of talent selection) Funds, which imbursed the trips to the imperial examination at the provincial level were largely established in the form of civil financing in Wenzhou during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. A system of Binxing Funds had come into being at the level of town and county before the imperial examination was abolished in the late Qing Dynasty. Some lower gentry got a chance to take part in local public affairs by collecting donations of Binxing Funds and engaging in their daily management. They also won the real control of the funds. Educational public property represented by Binxing Funds served as governable resources for the gentry in handling local affairs and provided a material base for them to get power, which was well demonstrated in resisting the attack of Jinqian Association during Taiping Movement. After Taiping Movement, with the expansion of Binxing Funds to towns, more lower gentry took part in donation collecting and management, which brought convenience to their active participation in local social administrations afterwards.