Jiangnan Examination Hall, Ancient examination complex in Nanjing, China.
The Jiangnan Examination Hall is a large building complex in Nanjing that served imperial testing for several dynasties. The site contains many sections with thousands of individual exam rooms organized in a structured layout.
This testing site began in the Song dynasty and reached its peak importance when Nanjing became a capital city. The complex was later modified but remained central for centuries in selecting the empire's finest officials.
The layout reveals how seriously candidates were isolated during exams: each sat in a small, walled booth to prevent any cheating. This strict setup shows how much the testing tradition valued honest individual achievement.
The complex sits centrally near old temples and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since there are many paths to explore and the site can be exposed in hot weather.
The exam booths were so narrow that candidates could barely stand inside them; they had to eat, sleep, and work in these cramped spaces during exams lasting several days. These harsh conditions were intentionally designed to test only the most determined and committed candidates.
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