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Number one Chinese scholar Zhuangyuan

If you have the chance to go back to ancient China and ask an educated man what his biggest dream was. He would tell you that he wants to become a zhuang yuan, a title conferred on the scholar who came first in the highest imperial examination.

In ancient China, it was not that easy to be an official. You have to take exams first. The exams are very difficult and have many procedures. The outcome has to be confirmed by the Emperor himself. The number one scholar with the best score in the imperial exam is called zhuang yuan. 

Once you are selected as zhuang yuan you will be appreciated by the Emperor and appear in a parade downtown with a red robe and a tall, strong horse. Zhuang yuan is referred to the elite scholars. Now the imperial competitive examination bas been cancelled for many years.

However, people still like to call the best person in their field a zhuang yuan. An old saying goes that there are 360 trades and every trade has his master, or zhuang yuan.