Most Top Scholars Were From Economic Centers

 
Longing for knowledge and concern about education is a convention in China. In the times of selecting officials from scholars (581-1911, incorporating almost the whole feudalistic period of Old China), education was the only way to gain official position, fame and money. As such many people strove to be Zhuangyuan (the scholars who came first in Chinese imperial examinations between 581-1911 AD).

People said that the reason why one gained official position was related to geographical environment. They thought that pen-shaped mountains or towers could extract the soul of the earth, so people across the country built many pen-shaped towers to improve their examination prospects.

During imperial examinations, which started from Sui Dynasty (581－618) and Tang Dynasty (618－907) and abolished in late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a total of 652 liberal arts Zhuangyuan were selected.

According to a survey of Zhuangyuan's home towns, most of them were from Jiangsu province, Zhejiang was the second, and Hebei the third. There were 9 Zhuangyuan in Guangdong province.

After Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, the cultural and political focal point of China moved east. Nanjing and Hangzhou became the cultural and political centers of the nation. In adjacent areas many talents appeared.

The 9 Zhuangyuan of Guangdong were from Kaifeng, Nanhai, Shunde, Panyu, Chaozhou, and Wuchuan. Six of them were from Pearl Delta Area. So we can assume a relationship between economic development and talent cultivation.

Zhuangyuan were always from flourishing areas. Guangdong province produced 9 Zhuangyuan in total. These 9 Zhuangyuan prove that the cultural and economic position of Guangdong developed rapidly after Tang Dynasty.

(By Luna Yang and Alan Devey)

Source: Lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Carrot Chan