with each rank containing only two classes. Organization The nine ranks were separated into Upper, Middle, and Lower classes, each composed of three ranks, making nine in total. Each rank was also further classified into standard and secondary ranks and so the entire system contained 18 ranks. Ranks were expressed thus: 正一品 (Zheng yi pin; Standard class, Rank 1), 從一品 (Cong yi pin; Secondary class, Rank 1), 正四品上 (Zheng si pin shang; Standard class, Rank 4, Upper grade), 從四品下 (Cong si pin xia; Secondary class, Rank 4, Lower grade). The primary avenues to entering the nine ranks were through sponsorship, recommendation (zheng pi; 征辟) and examination (cha ju; 察舉). Recommendations were made by local recruiters (Zhongzheng; 中正) based on social status, morals, and ability, of which social status soon became the most important criterion. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, recommendations were marginalized and phased out of the recruiting process although sponsorship continued to play an important part in reaching the examinations until the Song era. Them, candidates were able to present themselves for exams independently, and bureaucratic staff who were recruited directly through the imperial examination system became the norm. Aside from official ranked titles, officials also received prestige titles (散官), which were normally based on seniority. See also Number nine in Chinese culture Twelve Level Cap and Rank System References Bibliography Cao Wei Northern and Southern dynasties Sui dynasty Goguryeo Baekje