China, Imperial Examinations and Related Papers (Han Yu-shan Collection) - FamilySearch Historical Records

China

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China
Jia
File:China.png
Record Description
Record Type:	Imperial Examinations and Relates Papers
Collection years:	1646-1904
Languages:	Chinese, Manchu
Title in the Language:	中國, 科舉考試及相關記錄 (韓玉山收藏)
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China
Chinese Research Helps
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Related Websites
Jia Pu (Chinese Genealogical Record): An Introduction
Online Archives of California: Han Yu-Shan Collection
Archive
The Rudolph East Asian Library, University of California, Los Angeles

What is in This Collection?

This collection includes records from 1646-1904. It is a collection of palace examinations from the Han Yu-shan Collection of the East Asian Library at UCLA, Los Angeles, California. Han Yu-shan was a professor in the History Department at the university.

Until 1905 Imperial China used civil service examinations to select candidates for government jobs. The exams tested knowledge of classical literature and Confucianism texts. Although the exams were open to all Chinese men, usually only wealthy families had the time and money to devote to studying for the exams. There were four levels of the exam, each one promoting the test taker in social class and eligibility for government jobs.

There are nine record types included in this collection:

• Palace examinations (with names)
• Anonymous palace examinations
• Palace examinations (by subject)
• Palace poetry examinations
• Palace Manchu language examinations
• Academy examinations
• Miscellaneous examinations
• Palace military examinations
• Imperial edicts and manuscripts

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

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Reading These Records

These records are written in Chinese. For help reading them see:

• Wikipedia: Chinese Language
• Wikipedia: Chinese Characters
• Chinese Kinship Terms Table
• Western-Chinese Calendar Converter

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for China, Imperial Examinations and Related Papers (Han Yu-shan Collection).

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in this collection:

• Given name
• Family name
• Generation name
• Birth year
• Chinese birth year
• Birthplace
• Examination year
• Father/grandfather/great-grandfather's names

Collection Content

Sample Image

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  1646 Imperial Examination

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

• Your ancestor's given name and family name.

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:

1. Select Record Type to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Add any new information to your records
• Use a Western-Chinese Calendar Converter to change the birth year from the Chinese year to the equivalent western year
• Look for a patriarchal line (father, grandfather, great-grandfather) and use this information to extend your pedigree
• Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community
• Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may also be listed

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

• When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
  
• Check for variant spellings of the names
• Your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

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