If those (who had been reported to him) did not
(now) change, he gave orders that they who were
noted as continuing disobedient in the districts on
the left should be removed to those on the right,
and those noted on the right to the districts on the
left. Then another examination was held in the same
way, and those who had not changed were removed
to the nearest outlying territory. Still continuing
unchanged, they were removed, after a similar trial,
to the more distant territory. There they were again
examined and tried, and if still found defective, they
were cast out to a remote region, and for all their
lives excluded from distinction.
3. Orders were given that, throughout the districts, the youths who were decided on as of promising ability should have their names passed up to the minister of Instruction, when they were called "select scholars." He then decided which of them gave still greater promise, and promoted them to the (great) college[1], where they were called "eminent scholars[2]." Those who were brought to the notice of the minister were exempted from services in the districts; and those who were promoted to the (great) school, from all services under his own department, and (by and by) were called "complete scholars[2]."
4. The (board for) the direction of Music gave all honour to its four subjects of instruction[3], and
- ↑ This would be the college at the capital.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Have we not in these the prototypes of the "Flowering Talents" (Hsiû Зhai 秀才) and "Promoted Men" (Kü Zǎn 舉人) of to-day?
- ↑ In the text these are called "the four Arts" and "the four Teachings;" but the different phrases seem to have the same meaning.
