Introduction: A Scholar’s Rise and Sudden Fall

In the autumn of 1726, during the fourth year of the Yongzheng Emperor’s reign, Cha Sit-ing, a respected scholar-official serving as a Grand Secretariat academician and Vice Minister of Rites, was appointed as the chief examiner for the provincial civil service examination in Jiangxi province. While Cha Sit-ing’s name may be unfamiliar to many today, his lineage includes one of the most famous cultural figures of modern China: the acclaimed novelist Louis Cha . Cha Sit-ing hailed from a prestigious scholarly family in Zhejiang’s Haining region, renowned for its multiple jinshi degree holders and imperial academicians. Despite his credentials and experience, his life ended in tragedy, a victim of imperial suspicion and political intrigue that unfolded in a dramatic episode during the Yongzheng reign.

This article explores the historical context, the examination scandal itself, its cultural significance, and its enduring legacy in Qing dynasty history.

The Qing Dynasty Civil Service Examinations: Context and Importance

The civil service examination system was the backbone of imperial China’s bureaucracy, serving as the primary pathway for selecting government officials based on merit rather than birthright. By the Qing dynasty , the examination system was highly institutionalized, featuring several levels: county, provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations. Success in these exams was not only a personal achievement but a means for families to gain social prestige and political influence.

Provincial examinations, such as the Jiangxi exams of 1726, were crucial. They filtered candidates for the metropolitan exams in the capital before final selection by the emperor. The role of chief examiner was therefore a position of great responsibility and trust, requiring impeccable scholarship and loyalty to the dynasty.

Cha Sit-ing: Background and Appointment as Chief Examiner

Cha Sit-ing’s appointment in 1726 was not accidental. Recommended by the influential Mongol noble Longkodo, a close confidant of the Yongzheng Emperor, Cha was well-qualified. His family boasted a remarkable record: “one family with seven jinshi degree holders, and five grand academicians among uncles and nephews.” This reputation underscored the intellectual heritage and political connections that paved his way into the imperial bureaucracy.

Having served as chief examiner before, Cha was familiar with the examination procedures. Upon arriving in Jiangxi, he followed the established tradition of crafting questions based on the Confucian classics, particularly the Four Books and Five Classics, which formed the moral and philosophical foundation of the civil service curriculum.

The Examination Questions and Their Controversial Interpretation

Cha Sit-ing’s exam questions were conventional on the surface, but they would soon spark imperial suspicion. The questions included:

1. “The Master said: The gentleman does not recommend a person based on speech, nor dismiss a statement based on the person.”
2. “Daily self-examination and monthly testing are the foundation for encouraging the hundred crafts.”
3. “When a mountain path is used, it becomes a road; if not used, it becomes overgrown.”
4. “The ruler is like the heart; ministers are like the arms.”
5. Two additional essay prompts: “Righteousness is great; thus the feelings of heaven and earth can be seen,” and “When a hundred rooms are filled, women and children find peace.”

At first glance, these questions appeared balanced and orthodox, reflecting classical Confucian values about governance, morality, and social harmony. The examination process proceeded smoothly, and Cha completed his duties, returning to Beijing on September 13.

The Emperor’s Suspicion: Decoding Hidden Meanings

However, that very night, Cha Sit-ing and his entire family of thirteen were arrested, their homes searched. Within days, Cha was stripped of his office and subjected to severe interrogation. The Yongzheng Emperor had reviewed the examination questions himself and perceived subversive messages hidden within.

The emperor’s scrutiny was meticulous and unforgiving:

– The first question, which stated that a gentleman should not recommend others by words alone, was seen as contradictory to the imperial practice of meritocratic promotion, implying criticism of the emperor’s own policies.
– The third question about the mountain path becoming a road if used, or overgrown if unused, puzzled the emperor, who accused Cha of harboring questionable intentions without explicitly explaining why.
– The essay prompt comparing the ruler to the heart of the body (a vital organ) was questioned for its failure to use more exalted terms for the sovereign, suggesting Cha’s lack of proper respect.
– Most damning were the last two essay prompts. The emperor fixated on the characters “righteousness” and “stop” was a veiled attack, symbolizing a desire to “cut off” or undermine his authority.

The emperor summarized, “The questions reveal a heart filled with resentment and a mocking attitude toward current affairs.” The court officials praised the emperor’s discernment, marveling at his ability to detect such hidden critiques that others had missed.

The Diary: Unearthing Further Evidence of Disloyalty

The investigation deepened when Cha Sit-ing’s personal diary was seized. The entries contained sharp criticisms of the previous Kangxi Emperor’s administration and veiled disapproval of Yongzheng’s rule. Notably, Cha recorded the death of Kangxi in 1722 with a mix of personal ailment and cynical commentary, mentioning his own illness in a way interpreted as disrespectful.

During Yongzheng’s reign, Cha documented imperial court sessions and rituals with descriptions of natural disasters—storms, hailstorms, floods—each exaggerated to symbolize ongoing misfortune and divine displeasure. For example, he claimed that floods in Rehe province drowned 800 officials and swarmed with locusts, a hyperbolic statement that painted a grim picture of the empire’s wellbeing.

Such writings were considered seditious, reflecting not just passive dissent but active undermining of the emperor’s legitimacy.

The Harsh Punishment and Its Ramifications

Cha Sit-ing’s fate was sealed. After a trial by the Three Judicial Offices, he was convicted of treason and sentenced to the brutal punishment of lingchi . His entire family suffered severe retribution: his property was confiscated, male relatives over sixteen were executed, and other relatives were exiled thousands of miles away, stripped of status and forced into slavery. The scandal was so significant that the civil service examinations in Zhejiang province were suspended for three years as a form of collective punishment and political caution.

Interestingly, Cha died in prison before the sentence could be carried out, reportedly from fright or possibly suicide, sparing him the agony of execution.

Yongzheng’s Reign: Political Climate and Sensitivities

This incident illuminates the tense political atmosphere of the Yongzheng era. Yongzheng was known for his strong centralization policies, rigorous enforcement of imperial authority, and suspicion towards officials who might challenge his legitimacy. His reign followed the long and stable rule of Kangxi, and Yongzheng worked hard to consolidate power amid factionalism and court intrigue.

The examination scandal involving Cha Sit-ing demonstrates how even subtle expressions of dissent, whether intentional or accidental, were met with harsh repression. The emperor’s vigilance over the ideological correctness of examination content underscores the political significance of the civil service system as a tool for control and loyalty.

Cultural and Historical Legacy

The Cha Sit-ing case remains a poignant example of the dangers faced by scholar-officials in imperial China when political winds shifted. It also highlights the intense scrutiny under which examination materials were placed, reflecting the inseparability of scholarship and political loyalty.

The story resonates beyond its immediate historical moment. It serves as a cautionary tale about power, censorship, and the fine line between intellectual integrity and political survival. The episode is also a reminder of how personal writings—such as diaries—could become incriminating evidence in authoritarian regimes.

Moreover, the link to Louis Cha, the celebrated 20th-century novelist whose works have captivated millions worldwide, adds a layer of human interest to this historical episode. The literary legacy of the Cha family contrasts sharply with the tragic fate of this Qing dynasty ancestor.

Conclusion: The Tragedy of Cha Sit-ing and the Complexities of Qing Politics

Cha Sit-ing’s downfall in 1726 was not merely the result of a misjudged examination but a collision of intellectual expression with imperial suspicion. His story encapsulates the fraught relationship between scholarship and power in Qing China, the perils of serving under a vigilant emperor, and the enduring impact of political purges on families and institutions.

While Cha Sit-ing’s life ended in tragedy, the incident provides historians with a vivid window into the complexities of Qing governance, the symbolism entrenched in the civil service examinations, and the cultural tensions of an empire striving to maintain order amid changing times.

In remembering Cha Sit-ing, we are reminded that history often turns on the smallest details—words chosen in an exam, a diary entry, a character’s stroke—and that the consequences of those details can ripple across generations.