Taixue

The Sui dynasty instituted major reforms, giving the imperial academy a greater administrative role and renaming it the Guozijian (國子監).

Taixue taught Confucianism and Chinese literature among other things for high level civil service posts, although a civil service system based upon competitive examination rather than recommendation was not introduced until the Sui and did not become a mature system until the Song dynasty (960–1279).

[citation needed] This provided the Han dynasty with well-educated bureaucrats to fill civil service posts in the imperial government.

[8] The Imperial University (taixue) in Kaifeng was created as part of the Qingli Reforms to provide education to the children of commoners and low-ranking officials.

In 1106 a new "eight virtues" advancement path was introduced, with students recommended for their virtuous conduct spending one year in the prefectural school and then proceeding to the Upper Hall of the university.