f the 6th of November 1906 initiating changes in the
central administration was accompanied by another edict outlining
changes in the provincial government, and an edict of the 22nd of July
1908 ordered the election of provincial assemblies. The edict made it
clear that the functions of the assemblies were to be purely
consultative. The elections took place according to the regulations,
the number of members allotted to each province varying from 30 (Kirin
province, Manchuria, and two others) to 140 in Chih-li. The franchise
was restricted, but the returns for the first elections showed nearly
1000 voters for each representative. The first meetings of the
assemblies were held in October 1909.

_The Civil Service._--The bureaucratic element is a vital feature in
the government of China, the holding of office being almost the only
road to distinction. Officials are by the Chinese called collectively
_Kwan_ (rulers or magistrates) but are known to foreigners as mandarins
(q.v.). The mandarins are divided into nine degrees, distinguished by
the buttons worn on the top of their caps. These are as follows:--first
and highest, a plain red button; second, a flowered red button; third, a
transparent blue button; fourth, an opaque blue button; fifth, an
uncoloured glass button; sixth, an opaque white shell button; seventh, a
plain gilt button; eighth, a gilt button with flowers in relief; ninth,
a gilt button with engraved flowers. The buttons indicate simply rank,
not office. The peacock feathers worn in their hats are an order granted
as reward of merit, and indicate neither rank nor office. The Yellow
Jacket similarly is a decoration, the most important in China.

The ranks of the civil service are recruited by means of examinations.
Up to the beginning of 1906 the subjects in which candidates were
examined were purely Chinese and literary with a smattering of history.
In 1906 this system was modified and an official career was opened to
candidates who had obtained honours in an examination in western
subjects (see Sec. _Education_). The old system is so closely identified
with the life of China that some space must be devoted to a description
of it.

As a general rule students preparing for the public examination read
with private tutors. There were neither high schools nor universities
where a regular training could be got. In most of the provincial
capitals, and at some other places, there were