The China Imperial Exam System Museum 上海嘉定中国科举博物馆

Our next stop in JiaDing is the China Imperial Examination System Museum 中国科举博物馆.

This museum is located in Shanghai's Confucius Temple in Jiading district, an 800-year-old building to commemorate Confucius, an ancient Chinese thinker, educator and statesman worshiped as the founding father of the teaching profession.
http://www.jiading.gov.cn/view_58.aspx?cid=298&id=43&navindex=0

Before reaching the entrance to we passed by the Confucius statue.

Took some photos with Confucius

The entrance of the museum with the ticket booth

Entrance fee is RMB20 per adult. Children is free. We have bought the combine ticket which included this museum and FaHua pagoda. If bought separately FaHua pagoda is RMB5 per adult.

The Shanghai Jiading Museum has been endeavoring to collect artifacts and documents connected to the imperial examination system since the early 1990's.

At the end of 2005, the Shanghai Jiading Museum changed its name to the Chinese Imperial Examinations Museum and become China's only museum specializing in the imperial examination system.

Beyond the entrance are 3 bridges

More photos of the bridges

After crossing the bridges, there is a red wooden door that led into the compound of the museum.

There are some olden stone carving of Chinese characters

Once entered the door, on the other side there hung posters which explains the China Imperial Examination Systems. Some description of the examination rules, etc.

Posters explanation of the Imperial Exam Systems

The compound had one row of building on each sides of a long path leading to the Confucius temple.

The steps leading to the Confucius Temple

The temple and pathway leading to it

Round stone carving in between the steps

Outside and Inside the Temple

The altar of Confucius

Magnificent Chinese painting decorates the ceiling

Statues and also a stone carving with characters

There are 2 buildings beside the temple. These buildings are the main exhibition hall for the museum. Here there are a lot of China history and also introduction of previous 状元 in China.

It said many private collectors contributed to the museum, with the original copy of a test paper dating back to the early 20th century, flax waistcoats stuffed with slips of paper and books printed with characters smaller than sesames which examinees stealthily took to the exams.

Some of the displays

More displays ...

Weapons of old warring China

With nearly 1,000 exhibits, the museum also showcases the procedures of the imperial exam system, its relations with Confucianism and Chinese civilization, its development, abolishment and the role it played in China's history.

Wen TianXiang writing poem in jail

In 1278, Wen TianXiang 文天祥 was captured by the invading Yuan armies of Kublai Khan, "offered" a Yuan post, and ordered to convince the remaining Song forces to surrender. Wen refused both and suffered for 4 years in a military prison before his execution in 1283. During this time he wrote the famous classics "Song of Righteousness" (Zhengqige), and "Passing Lingdingyang".

The imperial examination system was founded in 605 and abolished in 1905. Several million successful candidates stood out in exams to enter officialdom.

Jiading district in Shanghai alone was home to nearly 200 scholar-turned-officials in history.

Path taken as we were leaving

One last photo shot in front of the museum

Overall, it is a place worth the visit to gain more knowledge about Chinese Imperial Examination System. The opportunity to view and experience physically materials that normally we only get to learn through textbooks or history books.