The Purpose and Function of Ancient Education in China
The initial education and scientific research system was in the Han Dynasty. In order to break the monopoly of aristocratic families on officialdom, because aristocratic families monopolized knowledge at that time, all the people who could get education were their own families, so the selection of officials was in the hands of aristocratic families. Aristocratic families gradually mastered political affairs by selecting officials, damaging the rulers and social interests for their own interests. In order to regain their rights and ensure their policies, rulers can adopt the system of selecting civil servants such as Xiao Lian. In this way, the elite among the civilians will be in their own hands and form a confrontation with the family. Then the Sui Dynasty perfected the scientific research system, completely put an end to the aristocratic families' mastery of state affairs, and the government operated according to the wishes of the rulers. Finally, in the Ming Dynasty, the writing of eight-part essay institutionalized the selection of scholars, provided a unified examination system, and reduced the examiner's subjective preference. It can better select talents to serve the rulers. Although the cabinet system in the Ming Dynasty emptied the emperor's rights to a certain extent, it also ensured that the Ming Dynasty would not collapse because of the emperor's fatuity.