This is a joyous gazette of the Ming Dynasty provincial-level examination in 1593, which records detailed information about the candidate's age, appearance, ranking, place of origin, and name. It differs from the gazatte used in the Qing Dynasty.

 

The Ming Dynasty had a well-established imperial examination system, which the Qing Dynasty largely inherited. The Ming's system consisted of four stages: the preliminary examination (童試), the provincial examination (鄉試), the metropolitan examination (會試), and the palace examination (殿試).

 

However, the Qing Dynasty introduced an additional examination presided over by the Ministry of Rites, before the metropolitan examination. And after the palace examination, apart from the top three scholars who were directly appointed as the top scorers (一甲進士) and received immediate appointments, the second and third-tier scholars (二、三甲進士) had to undergo another hall examination before being granted official positions.

 

In comparison, the Qing Dynasty's imperial examination system was more complex and rigorous than that of the Ming Dynasty.