“The flexible body of the bee bends round a drop of dew on a flower.”
My comrade, whose turn it was to answer, reflected silently for a long time, until at last, Providence helping him, he cried out, seeing before his eyes a scene that was being enacted in the garden outside—
“The oblique eye of the sparrow stealthily watches the caterpillar curled up in a leaf.”
I need hardly say that he was vigorously applauded by his comrades, and handsomely rewarded by the professor.
As soon as the books mentioned above have been done with, besides certain selections from historical and literary works, the scholar begins to try his hand at difficult composition, which is preparatory study for our general competitive examinations. These dissertations are composed after the method of the Bakou, which are the eight rules to be followed in composition. Subjects are taken from philosophy or politics, being always chosen from celebrated classical authors mentioned above, and especially from Confucius. Concurrently with these the student practises his hand at poetical composition, very difficult tasks being set.
The young candidates have to present themselves, in the first place, at the annual examination, which takes place at the sub-prefecture—this examination being for the degree of bachelor of arts. The examination is a written one. Candidates must, before attaining this degree, undergo another examination before an Imperial examiner, specially commissioned for this purpose. The examination for the licence, or second degree, only takes place once every three years, as does also the examination for the third degree, which is that of doctor. The two examinations do not, however, take place in the same year, or at the same season of the year. The second examination is held in the autumn in the different provincial cities, the third being held at Pekin in the following spring. It is a very usual thing to see a young man, who has passed these three examinations one after the other, return home in triumph to his parents, who up till then have been occupying some very humble position; for in China these competitive examinations are open to all except such persons as have followed dishonourable trades. The family of a common workman, who have had the good fortune to possess a son who has passed these examinations, becomes noble de jure, and the same honours are paid to the parents as to the son. In order to understand to what a degree public sympathy and encouragement are with a successful candidate, and the anxiety that every student has to pass to get his degrees, one must see the reception given to the successful students. When the names of the prize-winners are made public, the official employés come up in great state, carrying the nominations of the winners printed on huge pieces of red paper, which they stick up on the houses of the lucky ones. They are received with crackers and squibs, and candles and incense are burned before the ancestors and the light of day, in token of gratitude for the distinguished favour accorded to the candidate. A day is fixed for the due celebration of the victory, and all the candidates who have passed are present at this feast. From early dawn the families of the successful ones decorate their houses with flags, and await the arrival of their friends and neighbours, who come to bring their congratulations. The candidates go round in person to pay calls on all their friends, riding in sedan-chairs, and dressed in special clothes sent them by their parents-in-law, or in the case of bachelors, by their nearest relations. Those who have won the degree of bachelor wear a blue silk dress, the licentiates one of darker blue, while the doctors wear violet silk. A stiff kind of cape, embroidered in gold and coloured silks, is worn over the shoulders, and two sprays of flowers decorate the hat. In front of the sedan-chair men walk, carrying banners of red silk attached to bamboos still in leaf, while the musicians play their most joyful airs. The auspicious day is called the Day of the Reception of Flowers. For it appears that formerly women used to strew flowers in the paths of the young scholars. The procession fills many hearts with envy. How often have I not heard mothers saying to their children, “Your turn will come some day if you will only work.”
Success at these examinations opens every door to the young man, and the only thing that is feared is non-success. Once the examination passed, the career and the fortune of the young man are assured. The bachelor man of letters will at once receive offers of marriage from rich families. This will explain why no laws of compulsory education are necessary in a country where, by study, a man may from one day to another transform the social position of his family. Ambition urges people on to secure a good education for their children. Our students are sober folk. There is no Latin Quarter for him to frequent, politics disturb him not, and the only amusements that he knows of are poetical competitions and excursions into the country. His life is one of work and retirement, but he is never heard to complain, and has indeed no reason to do so; for the future smiles upon him, and the dusty volumes with which he is surrounded hold out to him the promise of what a familiar locution describes as “the highest honours, the most beautiful women, and the happiest life.”
