jiǔ​pǐn​zhōng​zhèng

nine-rank system

  1. nine grades of official rank
    The nine ranks of the civil service in imperial China, with each rank further divided into primary and secondary levels.
  2. local evaluator
    (historical) a local official responsible for ranking candidates for government service according to the Nine-rank System 九品中正制 jiǔ​pǐn​zhōng​zhèng​zhì