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{{Short description|Highest award for the imperial examinations of China}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=August 2018}}
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[[File:王瓊事蹟圖.jpg|thumb|[[Wang Qiong]] of [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] in his ''Jinshi'' attire]]
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = ''Jinshi''
| s = 进士
| t = 進士
| l = "entered scholar"
| p = jìnshì
| w = chin⁴-shih⁴
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|j|in|4|shi|4}}
| j = zeon3 si6
| y = jeun sih
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|z|eon|3|s|i|6}}
| altname = 
| chuhan = 進士 
| qn = Tiến sĩ 
}}

'''''Jinshi''''' ({{zh|t=[[wikt:進士|進士]]|p=jìnshì}}) was the highest and final degree in the [[imperial examination]] in [[Imperial China]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Chinese Imperial Examination System: An Annotated Bibliography}}</ref> The examination was usually taken in the imperial capital in the palace, and was also called the '''Metropolitan Exam'''. Recipients are sometimes referred to in English-language sources as '''Imperial Scholars'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Scholar-Officials of China {{!}} Essay {{!}} The Metropolitan Museum of Art {{!}} Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/schg/hd_schg.htm |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History |language=en}}</ref>

The ''jinshi'' degree was first created after the institutionalization of the civil service exam. Initially it had been "for six categories" but was later consolidated into a single degree. The examination system first appeared during the [[Han dynasty]], but the ''jinshi'' degree first appeared under the reign of [[Emperor Yang of Sui]]. During the [[Tang dynasty]], every year around one to two percent of test takers would obtain a ''jinshi'' title out of a total of one to two thousand test takers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fu |first=Zhengyuan |title=Autocratic Tradition and Chinese Politics |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-521-44228-1 |page=98}}</ref> By the second half of the Tang dynasty, the majority of senior government officials were ''jinshi'' degree holders.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wang |first=E. H. |last2=Yang |first2=C. Z. |name-list-style=amp |year=2025 |title=The Political Economy of China’s Imperial Examination System |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn= |doi=10.1017/9781009347600 }}</ref>

The numbers of ''jinshi'' degrees given out were increased in the [[Song dynasty]], and the examinations were given every three years. Most senior officials of the Song dynasty were ''jinshi'' holders.<ref>''[[History of Song (Yuan dynasty)|History of Song]]''</ref>

The [[Ming dynasty]] resumed the civil-service exam after its occurrence became more irregular in the [[Yuan dynasty]]. After the reign of the [[Emperor Yingzong of Ming]], it became the rule that only jinshi holders could enter the [[Hanlin Academy]]. On average around 89 ''jinshi'' per year were conferred.<ref>Ho 1962</ref>

During the [[Qing dynasty]] around 102 ''jinshi'' degrees were given a year.

The highest scoring ''jinshi'' in the country was known as the ''[[zhuangyuan]]'', a term that survives today as a high scoring ''[[gaokao]]'' test taker or just someone who is very good at a skill.

==Subtypes of ''jinshi'' recipients==
* '''''Jinshi Jidi''''' ([[wikt:進士及第|進士及第]], lit. "distinguished ''jinshi''"), graduates ranked first class in the court exam, usually only the top three individuals were qualified for this title.
** '''''[[Zhuangyuan]]''''' ([[wikt:狀元|狀元]], lit. "top thesis author"), the ''jinshi'' who ranked first overall nationwide.
** '''''Bangyan''''' ([[wikt:榜眼|榜眼]], lit. "eyes positioned alongside"), the ''jinshi'' who ranked second overall just below ''zhuangyuan''.
** '''''Tanhua''''' ([[wikt:探花|探花]], lit. "flower snatcher"), the ''jinshi'' ranked third overall.
* '''''Jinshi Chushen''''' ([[wikt:進士出身|進士出身]], lit. "''jinshi'' background"), the graduates who ranked second class in court exam, ranking immediately after the ''tanhua''.
* '''''Tong Jinshi Chushen''''' ([[wikt:同進士出身|同進士出身]], lit. "along with ''jinshi'' background"), graduates ranked third class in the court exam.

[[File:北京孔庙.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Beijing Temple of Confucius|Confucius Temple]] in [[Dongcheng District, Beijing|Dongcheng District]], firstly built in 1302 under [[Temür Khan, Emperor Chengzong of Yuan|Temür Khan (Emperor Chengzong)]] is the second largest in China. The temple houses 198 stone tabulets engraved with the names of 51,624 ''jinshi'' scholars of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.]]

==See also==
* [[Qing literati]]
* ''[[Shujishi]]''

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Academic degrees]]
[[Category:Confucian education]]
[[Category:Imperial examination]]
[[Category:Political history of China]]