Describe the use of the Chinese civil service exam and Chinese bureaucracy in both the Ming and Qing dynasties

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, bureaucracy became "professionalized" by hiring only the most competent employees for each government job position. In order to prove their proficiency, any candidate applying for a job in the government had to undergo a test based on the knowledge and skills required to perform efficiently at work. This system based on hiring only the best individuals is known as "meritocracy," and largely contrasts with the usual way of hiring bureaucrats by giving government jobs to noblemen and wealthy people regardless of their suitability for the jobs.