Why were Japan’s early attempts at introducing the Chinese-style imperial exam largely unsuccessful?

(A) The Japanese were unable to adapt to the Chinese style of examination. (B) Merchants resisted, fearing that efficient administrators would lead to increased taxes. (C) Japanese nobles feared that their power base would be weakened. (D) Christian missionaries discouraged the adoption of pagan practices.Explanation: Even though the civil service exams did not result in large degrees of social mobility, the Japanese nobles and Buddhist monks balked at the prospect of diluting their power. The Japanese had adopted Chinese writing and other elements of the imperial court system, so there is no reason to think that they would not have been able to adapt to that style of exam (A). Japanese merchants at this time weren’t significant enough to affect the decision (B), and Christian missionaries did not have enough influence to affect such decisions (D).