How did Kangxi recruit talented scholars outside the regular civil service examinations?

To recruit talented scholars outside the traditional civil service examinations, the Kangxi emperor established a special channel in 1678. Through this system, individuals recognized for their exceptional learning and writing abilities were admitted into imperial service based on recommendation.1

The 50 scholars selected through this process were appointed to the Hanlin Academy. These appointees, including the noted scholar Zhu Yizun, were tasked with significant literary and historical projects, most notably the compilation of the Mingshi, an official history of the Ming dynasty.1