Editing Nine-rank system (section)

===Organization===
The upper ranks were 1 − the highest — to 3, the middle were 4 to 6, and the lower were 7 to 9. Each rank had two classes − standard and secondary − for 18 steps. From the Northern Wei to before the Northern Song, classes from ranks 4 to 9 were further divided into upper and lower grades for 30 steps.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|pp=265-266}}

Ranks were expressed as class, rank, then grade; for example: Standard class, Rank 4, Upper grade ({{zh|s=正四品上|p=Zheng si pin shang}}).{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|p=266}}

Prestige titles were also awarded, normally based on seniority, to confer status among officials of the same rank.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|p=266}}

From the Han to the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]], local recruiters recommended official candidates. Social status became the most important criterion, and powerful local families secured places in government; this led to the saying: "There are no poor people in the upper ranks and no powerful families in the lower ones."{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|p=265}} Centralization during the Sui and Tang reduced the power of the local elites, and candidates started to be selected by the [[imperial examination]] system instead of by recommendations. By the Song, recruitment through examination was the norm.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|p=265}}