The Politics of Reform at the Imperial University
Chapter 3 discusses the installation of a school promotion mechanism at the Imperial University in 1071 as a product of negotiation and compromise between emperor Shenzong and reform-minded scholar-officials. Implementation of the Three Hall system triggered an increasingly politicized Imperial University, signified by Wang Anshi’s elimination of dissenting lecturers while exploiting educational institutions to promote his own school of thought. The final part of this chapter discusses the response of the emperor to Wang Anshi’s dominance. By removing Wang’s disciples from teaching positions and installing a comprehensive regulatory framework to administer the metropolitan schools, the emperor reclaimed his authority over official recruitment.