A quibble in an essay I mostly agree with; the Confucian exams were on "classical literature" -- but also skill with both composition and calligraphy, and the "classical literature" was "religious" in the sense that the teachings of K'ung Tzu are religious. However, they also are the basis for the whole legal system. In our terms, it would be more like a BA in Poly Sci followed by Law School -- a credential some people expect from our political leaders.