A good education has always been highly valued in China, as the people believe that education ensures not only the future and development of the individual but also the family and the country as a whole.
|Statue of Confucius |
Passed down from ancient times, the maxim from the Three-Character Scripture that says 'if no proper education is given to children, their nature will go bad' has proved to be true. The great master Confucius taught us that 'it is a pleasure to learn something and to try it out at intervals'. Similarly, numerous students have been convinced that 'reading books excels all other careers'. The records tell us that Mencius' mother became an example to millions of mothers who were keen for their children to be talented. - she moved her home three times in order to choose a fine neighborhood in which Mencius could be effectively influenced.
As far back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 11th century BC), inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells were the simple records of teaching and learning. In the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC - 771 BC), nobles built schools to teach their children, as their offsprings would be the officials of the future, while those who were gifted but of poor families could but dream of approaching state affairs. The development of education system led to a form of evaluation that became the means by which dynastic China appointed those with talents as officials. In general, this process can be divided into three periods - 'chaju' and 'zhengpi' in the Han Dynasty, the 'jiupin zhongzheng' system from Han to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Imperial Examination which survived from the Sui Dynasty (589 - 618) right through to the last feudal dynasty Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).
Ancient Education in China:
Education in Zhou & Han Dynasties
Imperial Examination in Sui & Tang Dynasties
Innovation of Education in Ming & Qing Dynasties
After that, China's education system fell into something of a state of confusion due to the changes in national government. However, with the foundation of modern China the new order introduced a fresh approach to education and brought is into a new phase. Through long-term endeavor, the provision of educational has taken on a prosperous process.
|Beijing Guozijian, |
Imperial College in Anicent Times
|Figurines of 72 Disciples of Confucius, |
Confucius Temple, Beijing