China, Imperial Examinations and Related Papers (Han Yu-shan Collection) - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1646-1904. It is a collection of palace examinations from the Han Yu-shan Collection of the East Asian Library at UCLA, Los Angeles, California. Han Yu-Shan was a professor in the History department at this university.

Until 1905 imperial China used civil service examinations to select candidates for government jobs. The exams tested knowledge of classical literature and Confucianism texts. Although the exams were open to all Chinese men, usually only wealthy families had the time and money to devote to studying for the exams. There were four levels of the exam, each one promoting the test taker in social class and eligibility for government jobs.

These records are written in Chinese. For translation help, see the section For Help Reading These Records.

Record Content
[Images should be in this section]

There are nine record types included in this collection.


 * 1) Palace examinations (with names)


 * 1) Anonymous palace examinations


 * 1) Palace examinations (by subject)


 * 1) Palace poetry examinations


 * 1) Palace Manchu language examinations


 * 1) Academy examinations


 * 1) Miscellaneous examinations


 * 1) Palace military examinations


 * 1) Imperial edicts and manuscripts

These materials may contain the following information:


 * Given name


 * Family name


 * Generation name


 * Birth year


 * Chinese birth year


 * Birth place


 * Examination year


 * Father/grandfather/great-grandfather's names

How to Use the Record
This section contains tips and information about how to search the record and use the information you find. Translation resources are also included.

As you begin your search it is helpful to know both your ancestor's given name and family name.

Search the Collection
To search by index:

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To search by image:

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links:

⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page

⇒Select the "Record Type" which takes you to the images

Search the collection by image comparing the information you find with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images to make this determination.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Chinese. For help with reading the records, see the following resources:


 * Wikipedia: Chinese Language


 * Wikipedia: Chinese Characters


 * [http://kwanfamily.info/culture/familytitles_table.php Chinese Kinship Terms Table


 * Western-Chinese Calendar Converter

Using the Information

 * Use a Western-Chinese Calendar Converter to change the birth year from the Chinese year to the equivalent western year


 * Look for a patriarchal line (father, grandfather, great-grandfather) and use this information to extend your pedigree

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.


 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.


 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit.

Related Websites

 * Jia Pu (Chinese Genealogical Record): An Introduction


 * Online Archives of California: Han Yu-Shan Collection

Related Wiki Articles

 * China Genealogy


 * Chinese Research Helps *China, Collection of Genealogies (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information (often called citing your sources). This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Record citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image citation: