Culture insider: China's ancient gaokao system

A man holds up a paper used to help someone cheat during the imperial examination in ancient China. [Photo/IC]

About cheating

In ancient times, there were many instances of cheating – in different forms. Some high officials and noble lords would bribe chief examiners. In addition, as there were no identity cards and no photos, there were various schemes offering services, such as someone – called a Qiangshou - to sit the exam on behalf of the candidate. 

In the late Tang Dynasty, the most famous Qiangshou, a gifted scholar called Wen Tingjun, helped eight people complete the exam during one imperial examination session.

The most commonly used method of cheating at the time involved copying the "Four Books" and "Five Classics" on thin paper and hiding the paper in writing brushes, under ink stones, in shoes, belts, clothes, candles - and even steamed buns.