The Imperial Palace Examinations consist of three ranks. The first rank, consisting of only three individuals, is known as "Jinshi Jiadi" (The Top Tier of Scholars). The first place, the Zhuangyuan, starts their career at the rank of 6b, while the second and third places, the Bangyan and Tanhua, start at 7a. These three are immediately appointed to the Hanlin Academy as editors or compilers without further testing. With such a high starting point, their careers usually progress smoothly, often leading to high posts in the various ministries or even the Grand Secretariat.
The second rank, "Jinshi Chushen" (Imperial Scholar Status), has a variable number of graduates—sometimes dozens, sometimes over a hundred. They also start at rank 7a. With the exception of the "Chuanlu" (the top-ranked scholar), who is granted an official post directly, all others must undergo a Palace Examination known as the "Chao Kao" to qualify for an official position.
The third rank, usually consisting of one to two hundred people, is known as "Tong Jinshi Chushen" (Equivalent Imperial Scholar Status). These are the bottom-dwellers of the Palace Examination. Were it not for the rule that no one is actually failed in the Palace Examination, they would likely have all been dismissed. Compared to the first two ranks, their starting point is much lower, usually at rank 8a, and they rarely secure positions in the capital, often being relegated to remote and desolate regions. If they compete for a position…
Chapter 113