Answer:
In ancient China, during the Han dynasty, there were educated degree-holders (such as xiucai, juren, or jinshi) and who would enjoy special privileges of dress, law and social position.
As no more than 5% of them could become officials, the majority of the scholar-gentry stayed in local villages or cities as social leaders. The scholar-gentry carried out social welfare measures, taught in private schools, helped decide minor legal disputes, supervised community projects, maintained local law and order, conducted Confucian ceremonies, assisted in the government's collection of taxes, and preached Confucian moral teachings.
As a class, these scholars represented morality and virtue. Although they received no official salary and were not government officials, their contributions and cooperation were much needed by the district magistrate in governing local areas.
During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese government adopted Confucianism as their ideology more than anything. Confucius believed that rule should be by a class of "scholars" who were able to pass an exam, which would be open to everybody. these people were called scholar gentries.
The poor were unable to afford the eduaction neede for the difficult exam and the rich were able to basically cheat their way through.