THE PASSIXG OF CHINA'S ANCIENT SYSTEM 107 



Me. Wtj, First Honor Man at the last 'Triennial' for the Second Degree in Che- 



kiang pkovince. 



pressure of foreign governments, notably Germany and Russia, brought 

 about the change of policy which followed Prince Kung's memorial to 

 the throne. The crisis arrived when Kang Yu-wei and his party of 

 earnest, progressive young men arrived from Canton in 1898, nominally 

 for the triennial literary examinations, but really to put on foot if 

 possible the needed educational reforms. Kang Yu-wei became the 

 confidential adviser of his majesty, and the first imperial decree seeking 

 to inaugurate an era of general betterment in government and educa- 

 tion was issued January 17, 1898. This was followed on June 23, with a 

 decree ordering the Board of Eites to remodel the examinations, saying : 



We have been compelled to issue this decree because our examinations have 

 degenerated to the lowest point, and we see no other way to remedy matters 

 than by changing entirely the old methods of examination for a new course 

 of competition. Let us all try to reject empty and useless knowledge, which 

 has no practical value in the crisis we are passing through. 



The emperor further called for the establishment of a government 

 university of foreign literature and science at Peking and of provincial 



