Final answer:
The Neo-Confucian canon, established by Zhu Xi, was incorporated into the civil service examination curriculum in late imperial China, becoming integral to the government bureaucracy selection process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Neo-Confucian canon, designated by Zhu Xi as the new Confucian canon, became the curriculum of the civil service examination in late imperial China.
Zhu Xi and other Neo-Confucian scholars formulated an interpretation of the Confucian texts that supplemented the older canon, which then became part of the examination system. This system was a critical feature of government administration, allowing for the meritocratic selection of bureaucrats.
The examinations tested knowledge in various Confucian classics, aiming to create a morally upright and well-educated governing class known as junzi, which was key to maintaining the social order and ensuring efficient governance.