Wu Zetian (1 janv. 624 – 1 janv. 705)

Description:

Worked to disempower the northern military “aristocracy”
and to strengthen the central power of the emperor

- by preferring peace to war
- by promoting low-level civil servants
- by executing 100s of aristocrats who opposed her
(esp. Li family ) i.e. “cleansing evil”

- by emphasizing exam system > recommendations
as the means to govt jobs, i.e.
merit vs family connections, thus…
creating a new class of govt officials: “scholar gentry”

an expanded pool of candidates, including gentry class
quotas for geographical distribution of candidates
-- and supported schools in every prefecture
anonymous grading, so no favoritism.

Aristocratic officials:
good character = more imp. > scholarship, and
can only be verified by personal recommendation

Zetian/Tse-tien:
personal recommendation = family favoritism;
“good character” = right family connections.
I will interview the top candidates and assess their moral character.
The exams are a test of character, i.e. of self-discipline