Tossup

“Presented” members of this profession were once designated with the title jìnshì (-5[1])(“JEEN-shurr”). A class centered on this profession was the dominant participant of an “eight-legged” process carried out in a cell. A campaign by Qín Shǐ Huáng (“cheen shurr hwong”) to bury members of this profession (10[1]-5[1])ended a historical period (10[1])named after a hundred groups of them. (-5[2])A member of this profession chronicled events in his home state in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Under the Suí (“sway”) dynasty, a class of officials of this profession were first administered imperial exams to become civil servants. For 10 points, name this profession of Confucius (-5[1])and his followers. ■END■ (10[5]0[1])

ANSWER: scholars [accept scholar-officials or literati or philosophers; accept civil servants until “bury” is read; after “bury” is read, prompt on civil servants until read; prompt on public servants or bureaucrats; prompt on officials until read]
<Editors, Other History>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups