Confucian classics were made the cornerstone of the [Chinese civil service examination] system simply because it had been the philosophy of the people. After the appearance of this system, students treated [the civil service system] as a stepping-stone toward government employment. — Pao Chao Hsieh, The Government of China, 1644 to 1911 (1925) Based on the excerpt, how did the civil service examination system change Chinese society? (1 point) Responses Confucian ideas shaped China’s government and led to discrimination against those who believed in other faiths and philosophies. Confucian ideas shaped China’s government and led to discrimination against those who believed in other faiths and philosophies. The Confucian-based civil service examination system led to the dominance of a highly educated and privileged class in Chinese society. The Confucian-based civil service examination system led to the dominance of a highly educated and privileged class in Chinese society. The Confucian-based civil service examination led to the development of a literary elite who studied Confucianism for its own sake. The Confucian-based civil service examination led to the development of a literary elite who studied Confucianism for its own sake. Confucian ideas became a unifying force that led to a better connection among the vast and diverse population of

Answer 1

China.

Based on the excerpt, the civil service examination system changed Chinese society by leading to the dominance of a highly educated and privileged class. This system, rooted in Confucian philosophy, incentivized students to pursue government employment, thereby creating a bureaucracy composed of individuals who were deeply versed in Confucian ideas. As a result, those who succeeded in these examinations gained significant influence and status in society, establishing a hierarchy that favored education and Confucian scholarship.