eight-legged essay en · NOUN
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 八股文 (bāgǔwén).
Meanings
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(historical) A standardized argumentative essay consisting of eight parts, written by candidates in the Chinese imperial examination.
In "Notes of Ling-hsiao and I-shih," Kuo-wen chou-pao, chüan 9, No. 28, July 18, 1932, p. 1, Chang Ch'ien, native of Nan-t'ung, Kiangsu, who later founded the big cotton mills, is described as beginning to study poem and eight-legged essay writing at twelve, becoming sheng-yüan at the early age of sixteen.
1967, Chung-li Chang, “Preparation for Examination — A Major Activity of the Gentry”, in The Chinese Gentry Studies on Their Role in Nineteenth-Century Chinese Society, University of Washington Press, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 166:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| eight-legged essays | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (7)
cmn 八股 (portion of the imperial examination) · cmn 制藝 /制艺 (portion of the imperial examination) · cmn 時文 /时文 (portion of the imperial examination) · fi kahdeksanosainen essee (portion of the imperial examination) · mr आठ पायांचा निबंध (portion of the imperial examination) · cmn 四書文 /四书文 (portion of the imperial examination) · cmn 八股文 (portion of the imperial examination)