The Implementation of the Civil Service Examination in the Goryeo Dynasty and the Meaning of ‘Eop(業)’

This study has examined the implementation of the civil service examination during the Goryeo dynasty and the distinctive features embedded within its system. By the time the civil service examination was first implemented in Goryeo, there was already a substantial understanding of the system within the society. Thus, the role of Ssanggi, a naturalized scholar, in the initial establishment of the examination was not so much about institutional design but rather about enhancing its authority and fairness by serving as the jigonggeo. This role was similar to that played by Gyunyeo in the implementation of the monastic examination around the same period. To support these efforts, King Gwangjong granted Ssanggi and Gyunyeo official titles and positions, solidifying their status.The key characteristics of the Goryeo civil service examination can be summarized as follows：Unlike its Chinese counterpart, Goryeo’s system included diverse fields such as the medical examination. The implementation of the medical examination, for instance, was not merely aimed at selecting talents but envisioned a structure in which successful candidates would engage in their respective fields across generations.Furthermore, the term “eop” (業) was used instead of “gwa” (科) for the examination categories. As a concept already rooted in Buddhism, “eop” could be seamlessly integrated into the examination system and was closely tied to the consciousness of succession inherent in Goryeo society. Literary collections and epitaphs from the period reveal that the system of passing the examination and succeeding in “eop” across generations was actively functioning. Thus, “eop” in the context of the Goryeo civil service examination was not merely a unit of categorization but a goal to be pursued and passed down to future generations.From the inception of the examination system, King Gwangjong prominently utilized the concept of “eop”, envisioning a structure in which success in the civil service examination would be inherited.