Why did Taizu order the public announcement of successful examination candidates?

The Taizu emperor ordered the public announcement of successful examination candidates as part of his broader efforts to reform the Chinese civil service and establish a bureaucracy grounded in demonstrated merit rather than birth or personal favor.1

By 973, Taizu had established a final examination held in the imperial palace to verify rankings and mandated that the list of successful competitors be announced publicly. This measure, along with his prohibitions against officials recommending candidates and his efforts to prevent graduates from viewing examiners as patrons, was intended to ensure fairness and integrity within the selection process. These reforms reflected his commitment to creating a stable, meritocratic administration that avoided the political pitfalls that had contributed to the collapse of previous dynasties.1