A special exhibition featuring the Chinese imperial examination system is on display at the Shenzhen Museum.

Originating in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 220), the Chinese imperial examination system, a Chinese civil service recruitment method and educational system, was employed for over two millenia until its abolishment in 1905.

The examination system was an attempt to recruit men on the basis of merit rather than because of social position or political connections. The system not only exerted a profound and far-reaching influence on China's government, education, society and historical development, but also on traditional East Asian and modern Western civil service examination systems.

Sponsored by the Shanghai Jiading Museum, the exhibition will run until May 29.

(Shenzhen Daily May 10, 2005)