This book is a comprehensive and systematic exposition of the history of the emergence, development, and evolution of the Chinese imperial examination system. It gathers the author’s insights from over 30 years of research on the history of the imperial examination and can be regarded as a summary work on the study of it in China. Organized chronologically, the book frames its narrative through the lens of the examination system's evolution, while interweaving accounts of key figures, events, activities, and ideologies.. It not only narrates the history of the imperial examination system, but also examines its practical operations and traces the historical development of examination-related thought. During narration, it focuses on the interdependence and interactive influence between people and the system, ensuring both scholarly rigor and readability.