How Did Confucianism Change Throughout The Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty, which began in the year 960, was known as "the most advanced society in the world in its day" (PMEA, 153). Improvements of the printing press and alterations of the examination system altered the way Confucianism functioned throughout China. Although it was introduced earlier, the printing press did not significantly affect the Chinese culture until the formation of the Song Dynasty. Previously, the printing of documents and books was completed by applying ink to a carved piece of wood with the desired message upon it. The block would then be pressed down onto a piece of paper, creating a very tedious process. With the introduction of moveable type, different blocks could be fit together to create a message, allowing a mass production of books to be completed in a short amount of time. As a result, a wide array of Confucian books was printed. Scholarly books could now be purchased at a reasonable price. The abundance of books made it easier for students to study Confucian texts, required knowledge for the civil service exam.

In order to become a member of the bureaucracy system, one had to pass this exam. Based on the knowledge of Confucian classics and literary, along with other important texts, the civil service exam required an immense amount of knowledge. With the availability of books, learning important and key concepts became easier. Education was spreading throughout the Song Dynasty region and its people were gaining more knowledge. To combat the increasing familiarity of Confucian texts, civil service exams were made to be more difficult. This way, the exam system could help discover men capable for government work.