The Chinese dynastic system was widely admired for its vast structural integrity, which allowed it to persevere for more than two millennia. The Xia Dynasty was the first documented dynasty in Chinese history, founded by a man named Shun who renounced the throne in favor of his trusted official Yu. Rather than pass power to someone qualified for the position, Yu then entrusted the dynasty to his son Qi, establishing precedence for dynastic rule. 1 This inaugurated the hereditary system that was followed by many dynasties to come. In the hereditary system, power was passed on to family members. This system also had the added benefit of ensuring stability and continuity within the nation's infrastructure.2 However, in the final years of the Chinese empire, dynasties began to shift towards selecting government officials based on their merit . From the Sui Dynasty in 581 until the end of the dynasty system around 1911, government officials were chosen based on their abilities and characteristics, rather than their lineage.3 The selection process, known as civil examinations, ensured that qualified citizens could take the exam. Village. Civil exams were extremely difficult and were governed by tight quotas and highly specific and invariable material. Although the strict restrictions ensured that the participants were highly qualified, they also had a negative effect. It inhibited the growth of knowledge among the select officials, also known as the scholarly nobility.4 The complexities and implications of this system will be discussed in detail later in this essay. The transition from dynasty to dynasty differed greatly from other well-known political systems of the early world. The Chinese people believed in the Mandate of......middle of paper......hina. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. (Page 187-200)17. Franke, The History of China at Cambridge. (Page 202-210)18. Gascoigne, The Dynasties of China: A History. (Page 140)19. Franke, The History of China at Cambridge. (Page 150-156)20. Franke, The History of China at Cambridge. (Page 168-178)21. Hucker, China's Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture. (Page 280)22. Grasso, June, Jay P. Corrin and Michael Kort. Modernization and revolution in China: from the opium wars to world power. Np: ME Sharpe, 2004. (Page 78-90)23. Grasso, Modernization and revolution in China: from the opium wars to world power (pages 89-100)24. Grasso, Modernization and revolution in China: from the opium wars to world power (p. 100)25. Franke, The History of China at Cambridge. (Page 267-270)26. Gascoigne, The Dynasties of China: A History. (Page. 140)