Vietnam: A Vietnamese mandarin with his sword bearer, Tonkin, c. 1890. For almost two thousand years, in the period of independence before Western colonialism, as well as under Chinese occupation, Vietnam was administered by a strict Confucian meritocracy of mandarins appointed by the royal court on the basis of examination success, personal morality and administrative ability.

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Size: 3400px × 5124px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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