In this final part of the three part series about the Beijing’s Imperial College, aka Guozijian 国子监, we look at the day in the life of a student referred to as Jiansheng 监生 in the college during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD).
Beijing’s Imperial College started in Yuan Dynasty, and evolved through Ming and Qing Dynasties. The exhibition looked at relics from the Qing Dynasty to enable us to understand the institute of higher learning in imperial China. But before we look at the day in the life of the student in the college, let’s understand a bit about the ranking system.
Nine-Rank System 九品中正制
The nine-rank system was used to categorise and classify government officials in Imperial China used since the Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms (220-280 AD). It was the way to select officials based on their family background, which in feudalistic China was based on the caste and social rankings; everyone was divided into nine ranks or pin 品, and into three grades (上中下).
After the imperial examinations 科举 were introduced in Sui Dynasty, the officials were selected from among the jinshi 进士, so this ranking system was used to differentiate the levels, and hence the power of the official. For example, a minister would be at least 3rd Rank 三品. 1st Rank 一品 was the highest before they can be conferred royal titles like Duke and usually given as an honour rather than for appointment of official positions.
The ranks were identified by the Mandarin patch on the front and back of the official robes. And the other way to get an official rank was through graduating from the Imperial College.
Qing Dynasty Staffing Headcounts 清朝国子监编制
Imperial College was the highest educational Institute and administrative setup in feudal China. As the state regulatory authority, Imperial College ranked highly in the world’s ancient education history for its unique administrative and education system.
| Position | Headcount and Rank | Modern Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 国子监管理监事大臣 | 满、汉大学士、尚书、侍郎内简拔任命 One, usually ministerial level (3rd Rank or better) | Minister of Education |
| 祭酒 Jijiu | 从四品，满、汉各一人 4th Rank 2nd Class, one each from Manchu and Han | Chancellor or Principal of University |
| 司业 Siye | 正六品，满、蒙、汉各一人 6th Rank 1st Class, one each from Manchu, Han and Mongol officials | Vice Chancellor or Vice Principal |
| 绳愆厅监丞 Jiancheng | 正七品，满、汉各一人 7th Rank 1st Class, one each from Manchu and Han | Discipline Master |
| 博士厅博士 Boshi | 从七品 7th Rank 2nd Class, no restriction but usually 6 for the six halls | Professors or Heads of Departments |
| 率性、修道、诚心、正义、崇志、广业六堂：助教 Zhujiao | 从七品 ，各一人 7th Rank 2nd Class, 6 for six halls | Asst Professors or Deputy Heads of Departments |
| 率性、修道、诚心、正义四堂置学正 Xuezheng 崇志、广业二堂置学录 Xuelu | 正八品，各一人 8th Rank 1st Class, 6 for six halls | Lecturers |
| 八旗官学助教 Baqi Guanxue Zhujiao 教习 Jiaoxi 笔帖式 Bitieshi | No rank, chosen from outstanding students; 2 Manchu and 1 Mongol; 1 Manchu, 2 Mongol, 4 Han; 4 Manchu, 2 Mongol, 2 Han | Tutors; Assistants; Class Representatives |
| 俄罗斯馆助教 Russian School Zhujiao | No rank, chosen from graduate, 1 Manchu, 1 Han | Tutors |
| 琉球学教习 Okinawa School Jiaoxi | No rank, chosen from graduate, 1 Han | Assistant |
| 典簿厅典簿 Dianbu | 从八品，满、汉各一人 8th Grade 2nd Class, 1 Manchu, 1 Han | Librarian |
| 典籍厅典籍 Dianji | 从九品，汉一人 9th Grade, 2nd Class, 1 Han | Asst Librarian |
Everyone kept meticulous records of everything that was going on in the college, from the conduct of the lecturers to the progress of the students, to the records of excellent essays.
绳愆厅“功过簿”是专门用来考核教师工作情况的，“堂行簿”是登记监内各项事物执行情况的；博士厅“功课履历簿”是记录监生学习成绩的，“拨历簿”是记录监生历事（实习）情況的，“荐卷簿”是记录、推荐优秀试卷的，“考勤簿”是专门记录监生考勤情况的。
There were also clear records of all the different professors and lecturers (and staff) that were assigned to the halls over the years. This would allow official records of teacher-student relationships, which is one of the key tenant of Confucianism – the respect of one’s teachers.
The Students – Jiansheng 监生 and Gongsheng 贡生
All roads lead to Rome, and to become a jiansheng 监生 (or student of Guozijian) you can come through one of nine routes during the Qing Dynasty. In a nutshell, you must excel in your local examinations and schools to be recommended, or you were a descendent of a patriot or martyr to qualify.
After they were nominated, the students had to sit for an entrance examination.
And once they passed and were accepted, they will officially become a jiansheng and made they way to Guozijian from all around China.
A Day in the Life of a Jiansheng
The textbooks were all provided by the school. The curriculum included the Classics, Poetry and Prose, and sometime Mathematics and Science.
Anyone who have studied Shakespeare in school would have used a study guide like Cliff Notes to help with the bizarre old English. These are the Cliff Notes in the 16th Century to help the students with the ancient Chinese text.
The students would spend their days in classrooms in the six halls.
There were very strict decorums in the classroom which every student had to follow. One had to stand on the side of the lecturer or tutor if he had a question; one had to knell before the teacher if he wanted to raise an objection or argument.
And the dreaded tests and examinations. There were not imperial examinations – the jiansheng did not have to take the imperial examinations as this route had its own way of evaluating the students through a combination of tests and internship.
One more task that the students were often asked to do was to assist the lecturers and professors to compile the articles of the encyclopaedia. Two major encyclopaedia was compiled in China in recent time – Ming Dynasty Yongle Dadian 《永乐大典》(1403-1408) “Yongle Encyclopedia” and Qing Dynasty Siku Quanshu《四库全书》(1772-1787) “Complete Library in Four Sections”
All students were fully boarded (uniforms, food and loadging were all provided) and received pay just like full time employees in terms of rice rations. These rations were exchanged for money at local rice shops, which the students would use the money to buy other stuff.
The students were given free medical care, and lodging were provided around the college, very much like hostels where vistations and curfew hours were strictly adhered to.
Overseas Students
As an institute of higher learning, Imperial College not only groomed innumerable talents for the nation and promoted extensive recruitments of foreign students but made positive contributions to disseminating the Chinese culture as well
End of the System
By 1905, the system was outdated and did not produce the talents required by a modernising nation. The curriculum was still focused on the Classics, the selection process as flawed and contained nepotism and bureaucracy. So Emperor Guangxu reformed the education system with the formation of the Capital University. That ended 1,300 years of Guozijian.
The site was used later for the Education Department for the newly formed Republic of China, and the site for the preparation of the National Museum of China. The site remains the only well preserved imperial college in China.
About the Confucian Temple 孔庙 and Imperial College 国子监
Beijing Confucian Temple and the Imperial College are located at Guozijian street of Dongcheng District. They were built in Yuan Dynasty, with a long history of more then 700 years. Emperors of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties came here to pay the respects to the great thinker and sage, Confucius.
The Imperial College was the highest learning institution in ancient China. Most of the current buildings were built during the Ming Dynasty. It is the last Imperial College in China and the predecessor of Peking University. Today, these buildings are opened for public to learn how our forefathers study and gain academic success in imperial China.
The ticketing office is beside the main gate of the Confucian Temple. After buying the ticket, you may enter the Confucian Temple, and then continue the tour to the Imperial College through the Chijing Gate 持敬门 beside the Stele Pavilion 石径.
Opened daily between 8.30am – 4.30pm, except Mondays. Tickets must be bought through WeChat mini apps. Remember to bring your passport to visit.
Confucian Temple and Imperial College 孔庙 国子监
Guozijian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Visited May 2023
#QingDynasty #MingDynasty #BeijingHutongs #Confucius #ConfuciusTemple #ChinaImperialCollege @孔庙和国子监博物馆 #GuoZhiJian
0 comments on “Beijing Imperial College 国子监 – Part 3 Life in the College”