Memorial from Minister of Rites Report on the Schedule of the Palace Exam, Announcement of Successful Candidates, and Banquet
In the early Qing dynasty, the palace exam was typically administered in the fourth or fifth month, and from 1761 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor onwards, was stipulated to be held on the twenty-first day of the fourth month. As to the location, it was first conducted at Tian’anmen and later moved to Taihe Hall. In 1789 during the Qianlong reign, Baohe Hall became the official venue for the exam.
The schedule of the palace exam from 1769 and related events is as follows (21.4 should be read as the twenty-first day of the fourth month):
21.4 Palace examination.
22–23.4 Evaluation of examination papers.
24.4 Examination officials present the highest ten marked exam papers to the emperor still sealed. The emperor then summons the ten candidates to an audience to examine their responses and designate their placing.
25.4 The announcement of successful candidates and calling of their names is conducted at Taihe Hall, and the golden placard is put on display outside East Chang’an Gate. The three highest placed candidates are dressed in hairpins and red silk and attend a procession on horseback. Officials of Shuntian Prefecture then see off zhuangyuan, namely the highest-ranked jinshi.
26.4 Newly graduated jinshi banquet held by the Ministry of Rites.
28.4 Award ceremony held in front of Meridian Gate to bestow gifts and taels to zhuangyuan and newly graduated jinshi.
29.4 Newly graduated jinshi, led by zhuangyuan, submit memorials expressing their gratitude to the emperor in front of Meridian Gate.
1.5 Newly graduated jinshi, led by zhuangyuan, visit the Confucius temple to put on the gowns of their new rank.
- Item No.
- 081125
- Period
- May 17, 1769
