Paths to Modernization History - Paths to Modernization

How did Korea deal with the foreign currency crisis in 1997?

What is the meaning of Dim sum?

Who was the President of Chinese Revolutionary League? What were its principles?

Which two famous commercial companies were set up in Japan during Meiji period?

Why did America want to colonise Japan? Give two reasons.

Did Japan’s policy of rapid industrialisation lead to wars with its neighbours and destruction of the environment?

How did the Japanese cities become bigger? Discuss its significance.

What do you understand by the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution?

Did Deng raise Chinese people's expectations?

Discuss the essential features before the Meiji restoration that made it possible for Japan to modernise rapidly.

How did Japan re-emerge as an economic power of world after the defeat in Second World War?

Discuss the achievements of Deng Xiaoping.

The Examination System
Entry to the elite ruling class (about 1.1 million till 1850) had been largely through an examination. This required writing an eight-legged essay (pa-ku wen) in classical Chinese in a prescribed form. The examination was held twice every three years, at different levels and of those allowed to sit only 1-2 per cent passed the first level, usually by the age of 24, to become what was called 'beautiful talent'. At any given time before 1850 there were about 526,869 civil and 212,330 military provincial (sheng-yuan) degree holders in the whole country. Since there were only 27,000 official positions, many lower-level degree holders did not have jobs. The examination acted as a barrier to the development of science and technology as it demanded only literary skills. In 1905, it was abolished as it was based on skills in classical Chinese learning that had, it was felt, no relevance for the modern world.
Questions:

1. Write any two key features of Chinese examination system.
2. Why was this examination system abolished? Give two reasons.
3. How many civil and military provincial degree holders were in the whole country before 1850?

When was CCP founded? What was Russian influence in its formation? Discuss the role of Mao Zedong in it?

Japan's transformation into a modern society can also be seen in the changes in everyday life. Comment.

On the map of China, mark and locate the main route of Long March.