History of Korea

Civil and military officials were chosen from the yangban class via the examination system. Of course, anyone was able to take the examination tests. However, only yangban had the educational opportunities to be able to pass the tests.

There were two levels for exams: the lower level (or licentiate) and the higher level (or erudite). The lower level was divided into two classes: the Classics Licentiate Examination which tested the applicants on the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucian literature, and the Literary Licentiate Examination which tested the applicants in poetry, rhyme prose, documentary prose, and problem essay.

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