System Superficially Upheld the Traditional

¶ … system superficially upheld the traditional Confucian order because junzi could be considered shenshi. Both the junzi and shenshi cultivated themselves, valued education, and engaged in disciplined study. Like the junzi, the shenshi taught and governed others. Birth status was supposed to be irrelevant for the junzi and shenshi, as anyone (including a peasant) could aspire to be a shenshi. However, under the late Ming dynasty, scholars (who were possibly junzi) did not stick to the Confucian classics. Because they did not adhere to the Confucian belief that nature rewarded right behavior, they busied themselves in independent thought on a wide variety of topics, but rarely history, unlike the junzi. The junzi wanted to replicate the Zhou dynasty, but the late Ming scholars were much more forward thinking.

The examination system involved studying the Confucian classics, like zhengming, and the proper ordering of society and ren. However, the examination aspirants studied this, but did not practice it because shenshi moved away from their families. Since shenshi were moved every three years, they could not possibly stay and tend to their parents, as male children were supposed to do. In addition, because shenshi aspired to change their status, they did not submit and stay in their natural order. Religious ritual was also important to the Confucians, but does not seem to have been observed by the shenshi. In their situation as bureaucrats, shenshi actually became a check-and-balance on the emperor, which, again, demonstrated that they were not necessarily obedient to their social superiors.

Shenshi served their country well, moving every three years so as not to get entrenched in local politics. This helped unify China. Because they had to obtain monies from local gentry and merchants, they had to work with them instead of dictate to them. Because Confucianism arranged classes according to moral criteria rather than economic criteria, even a poor shenshi enjoyed enormous status and respect among the lower classes, so their position as higher-level shenshi probably helped gain cooperation. Shenshi held. Shenshi were members of the gentry in their own right, as well, with the wealth, honor, and tax-exempt status due their position. Shenshi handled taxes for the central government, as well, which helped supplement their income.