Events
551 BCE – Confucius:
He emphasized moral cultivation
and personal morality. His
teachings laid the foundation
for Chinese educational philosophy.213 BCE – Qin Emperor:
The First Emperor orders
the burning of books
and burying of scholars
to suppress Confucian
and other teachings.
This Legalist policy
centralized ideological
control at the expense
of intellectual freedom.605 CE – Imperial Examination:
The Sui dynasty inaugurates
the imperial civil service exam
(Keju) as a merit-based system
to recruit scholar-officials.
This milestone opened governance
roles to talent beyond the
aristocracy, shaping a meritocratic
education culture for centuries.1840 – Opium War Influence:
Exposed China’s scientific lag,
triggering education reforms.1905 – Abolition of Imperial Exams:
Abolished Confucian exam
system, opening modern
education.1919 – New Culture Movement:
Intellectuals and students
(e.g. Chen Duxiu, Hu Shih)
spearhead the New Culture
Movement. They advocated
science, democracy, and
vernacular language in education.1949 – Founding of the PRC:
The People’s Republic of
China is established under
Mao Zedong. He focused
on literacy and state-controlled
education.1966 – Cultural Revolution:
Mao Zedong launches the
Cultural Revolution, Schools
closed; education replaced
by political indoctrination.
This decade severely disrupts
formal education1977 – Gaokao Restored:
After the Cultural Revolution,
the government reinstated
merit-based university entrance
exams.This means the return
to academic standards and
heralding the start of
educational recovery in China.1986 – Compulsory Education Law:
China enacts the Nine-Year
Compulsory Education Law,
made nine-year education
mandatory. for all children.
By waiving tuition, the
enrollment and literacy rates
across urban and rural areas
increases.Periods
Ancient Education (800 BC – 1840 )Modern Educational Transition (1840 – 1949)Socialist Education Ideology (1949 – 1978)Education Reform in the Reform Era (1978 – Present)
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