关键词: 科举制度, 地方精英, 社会稳定, 传统社会, 宋元时期

Abstract: The imperial examination system (Keju)，originating in the Sui Dynasty and peaking in the Song Dynasty，was central to determining a persons identity，status，and income in traditional Chinese society It also played a key role in shaping social structures After the Song Dynasty，local governance shifted to a “weak state，strong localities” model，and scholarofficials formed an “elite class” that linked the people to the state and maintained local order
This paper examines how the evolution of the imperial examination system impacted Chinese society both in the short and long terms In the 13th century，the Mongol Yuan Dynasty disrupted the system，leaving the north and south with long gaps (over 80 and 40 years，respectively) without imperial exams The abolition of exams after the Song Dynasty offers a unique “natural experiment” to assess the systems influence on society The breakdown of the link between local elites and the state contributed to increased rebellions during the SongYuan transition
Using historical data and a generalized differenceindifferences design，the study finds that regions with higher concentrations of Jinshi (the highest degree of Keju) in the Song Dynasty saw more rebellions after the exams were interrupted The early Yuan Dynastys abolition of the system weakened the states ties to local elites，fostering the development of local selfgovernance The paper also uses other historical events to show how the imperial examination system contributed to the localization of elites From a longterm perspective，it suggests a link between local elites and governance mechanisms，including private familybased or clanbased systems
This paper makes three contributions：firstly，it highlights the longterm impact of institutional design on elite selection and governance；secondly，it analyzes the transformation of Chinas social structure from the Song to the Ming and the Qing periods；and thirdly，it provides insights into the enduring legacy of the imperial examination system in Chinese civilization，influencing cultural traditions and stability

Key words: Keju system, local elites, social stability, traditional society, SongYuan period