The paper studies the education system of Imperial China. It provides descriptions of both supervising institutions such as the Hanlin Academy and educational institutions such as the government-owned Beijing and Nanjing Guozijiang and the private Shuyuan. The importance of the education system in the formation and self-renewal of the political elites of the Empire is
indicated, and it is concluded that the education system has been and is the main source of stability and durability of the Chinese statehood.