Jinshi

History

China

The jinshi degree was first created after the institutionalization of the civil service exam. Initially it had been "for six categories" but was later consolidated into a single degree. The examination system first appeared during the Han dynasty, but the jinshi degree first appeared under the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui. During the Tang dynasty, every year around one to two percent of test takers would obtain a jinshi title out of a total of one to two thousand test takers. By the second half of the Tang dynasty, the majority of senior government officials were jinshi degree holders.

The numbers of jinshi degrees given out were increased in the Song dynasty, and the examinations were given every three years. Most senior officials of the Song dynasty were jinshi holders.

The Ming dynasty resumed the civil-service exam after its occurrence became more irregular in the Yuan dynasty. After the reign of the Emperor Yingzong of Ming, it became the rule that only jinshi holders could enter the Hanlin Academy. On average around 89 jinshi per year were conferred.

During the Qing dynasty around 102 jinshi degrees were given a year.

Korea

Durning the Goryeo Dynasty, anyone who passed civil service examination were called .{{cite web |access-date=6 January 2026 |trans-title=Jinsa}}

Durning the Joseon dynasty, among the Confucian students who passed the (), those who passed were called . The were eligible for appointment only to lower-ranking posts (such as () and (), and for admission to the Sŏnggyun'gwan. Unlike in China, where the was the highest and final degree of the imperial examinations, the Joseon was a lower-level title.

Subtypes of ''jinshi'' recipients

• Jinshi Jidi (進士及第, lit. "distinguished jinshi"), graduates ranked first class in the court exam, usually only the top three individuals were qualified for this title.
  • Zhuangyuan (狀元, lit. "top thesis author"), the jinshi who ranked first overall nationwide.
  • Bangyan (榜眼, lit. "eyes positioned alongside"), the jinshi who ranked second overall just below zhuangyuan.
  • Tanhua (探花, lit. "flower snatcher"), the jinshi ranked third overall.
• Jinshi Chushen (進士出身, lit. "jinshi background"), the graduates who ranked second class in court exam, ranking immediately after the tanhua.
• Tong Jinshi Chushen (同進士出身, lit. "along with jinshi background"), graduates ranked third class in the court exam.

Notes

References

References

1. "The Chinese Imperial Examination System: An Annotated Bibliography".
2. Fu, Zhengyuan. (1993). "Autocratic Tradition and Chinese Politics". Cambridge University Press.
3. Wang, E. H.. (2025). "The Political Economy of China’s Imperial Examination System". Cambridge University Press.
4. ''[[History of Song (Yuan dynasty). History of Song]]''
5. Ho 1962
6. "생원(生員)·진사(進士)". [[National Institute of Korean History]].