Qing literati

Qing literati (wenren Chinese:文人) were scholars in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911) educated in the Confucian curriculum, the "Four Books and Five Classics", and sometimes called "shi"(Chinese:士), scholar, and "shen"(Chinese:绅), or gentry. They were defined by their education and lifestyle, whether or not they gained their ambition of passing the Imperial examinations or becoming scholar-officials. They typically began their studies when young. They attempted to pass three tests throughout their lives. Candidates who achieved the lower degree were called shengyuan (Chinese:生员); those who passed the second level could take the third and highest test, held in Beijing every three years; those who passed this highest test were jinshi. rdf:langString