---
type: "Topics"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/topics/39263527.md"
description: "The Chinese mindset to this day remains that of the scholar-official.It's the classic progression of rectifying the heart, cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world.In the past, people studied, took the imperial examinations, and entered officialdom to realize their self-worth.Nowadays, this system has been reduced to taking civil service and public institution exams, though the opportunities for choice have actually increased.However, the education system hasn't changed much; it still emphasizes theory over practice.After over a decade of schooling, the best choice for most people is still to continue being 'small-town exam-takers' and go for the civil service or public institution exams."
datetime: "2026-03-14T08:48:43.000Z"
locales:
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/topics/39263527.md)
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/39263527.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/39263527.md)
author: "[浩浩荡荡](https://longbridge.com/en/profiles/19784218.md)"
---

> Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/39263527.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/39263527.md)


# The Chinese mindset to this day remains that of th…